Rajinikanth, born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad on December 12, 1950, is an iconic Indian actor primarily known for his work in Tamil cinema. With a career spanning over five decades, he has acted in 169 films, including works in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam.

Rajinikanth hails from a Marathi Hindu family and was raised in Bangalore, Mysore State (now Karnataka). His mother was a homemaker, and his father, Ramoji Rao Gaekwad, served as a police constable. His ancestors had roots in Mavadi Kadepathar, Pune, Maharashtra1.

The actor, popularly known as “Thalaiva”, has left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry. Here are some key points from his life:

Debut: Rajinikanth made his acting debut in the Tamil film “Apoorva Raagangal” (1975). He later appeared in Kannada and Telugu films as well.

Awards and Honors:
Padma Bhushan (2000)
Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year (2014)
Padma Vibhushan (2016)
Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2021)