Subhash K Jha lists 10 facts you didn't know about Rajinikanth, who turned 75 on December 12.
Rajini started his career in a supporting role in K Balachander's Apoorva Raagangal in 1975. Kamal Haasan was the film's hero.
Rajini, then named Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, approached Balachander for a role and was a last minute addition to the film.
K Balachander gave Shivaji Rao Gaekwad his screen name, Rajinikanth. Balachander had two other options: Chandrakanth and Srikanth.
Rajinikanth wed Latha in 1981. Elder daughter Aishwarya was born in 1982; Soundarya was born two years later.
Rajinikanth has implicit faith in wife Latha's judgement. She is the first to watch his films and doesn't hesitate in giving him her blunt opinions.
'He is a simple human being,' Rajinikanth's daughter Soundarya once told Subhash. 'With Dad, there are no two faces. What you see is what he is.'
Rajinikanth reportedly acknowledges Shatrughan Sinha as his guru.
'When we worked together in K C Bokadia's Asli Naqli,' Shatru recalls, 'he told everyone he was the naqli Shatrughan Sinha. That's the greatness of this humble man.'
Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha were most surprised by Rajinikanth's decision to dive into politics because when they entered politics, Rajinikanth had done his best to dissuade them.
His Bollywood debut, 1983's Andhaa Kaanoon, was a hit. But his subsequent Hindi films -- Meri Adalat (Zeenat Aman), Gangvaa (Shabana Azmi), Asli Naqli (Anita Raaj), Daku Haseena (Zeenat Aman) -- were flops.
Rajinikanth has always considered Kamal Haasan his biggest rival and a dear friend.
Rajinikanth heads for the Himalayas every year for spiritual solace. He calls this annual pilgrimage a cleansing process.