Rajinikanth
Actor, Writer, Producer
December 12, 1950 (75 years)
Rajinikanth (born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad; 12 December 1950) is an Indian actor, producer, and screenwriter who works primarily in Tamil cinema. He made his cinematic debut in a supporting antagonistic role in K. Balachander's Tamil drama *Apoorva Raagangal* (1975). Known for his distinctive acting style and dialogue delivery, he has become an established and commercially bankable actor in Indian cinema.
After initially portraying villains and anti-heroes, Rajinikanth transitioned to lead roles during the late 1970s and 1980s. His collaborations with director S. P. Muthuraman included *Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri* (1977), *Murattu Kaalai* (1980), and *Nallavanukku Nallavan* (1984). His notable films of the 1990s included Suresh Krisnna's *Annamalai* (1992) and *Baashha* (1995), K. S. Ravikumar's *Muthu* (1995), and *Padayappa* (1999).
During the 2000s and 2010s, Rajinikanth appeared in P. Vasu's horror-comedy *Chandramukhi* (2005), Shankar's action film *Sivaji: The Boss* (2007), and the science-fiction films *Enthiran* (2010) and *2.0* (2018). He also starred in Pa. Ranjith's dramas *Kabali* (2016) and *Kaala* (2018), and Karthik Subbaraj's action film *Petta* (2019). He received the Padma Bhushan in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2021.
In 2023, Rajinikanth starred in Nelson Dilipkumar's action film *Jailer*. His 2024 releases included an extended cameo as Moideen Bhai in Aishwarya Rajinikanth's *Lal Salaam* and the lead role in T. J. Gnanavel's action-drama *Vettaiyan*. His subsequent films include Lokesh Kanagaraj's action thriller *Coolie* (2025) and Nelson Dilip Kumar's sequel *Jailer 2* (2026). Notable Upcoming Films Ashwath Marimuthu's *Dharman* (2027) and Nelson Dilip Kumar's *RKxKH Re-Union*.
After initially portraying villains and anti-heroes, Rajinikanth transitioned to lead roles during the late 1970s and 1980s. His collaborations with director S. P. Muthuraman included *Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri* (1977), *Murattu Kaalai* (1980), and *Nallavanukku Nallavan* (1984). His notable films of the 1990s included Suresh Krisnna's *Annamalai* (1992) and *Baashha* (1995), K. S. Ravikumar's *Muthu* (1995), and *Padayappa* (1999).
During the 2000s and 2010s, Rajinikanth appeared in P. Vasu's horror-comedy *Chandramukhi* (2005), Shankar's action film *Sivaji: The Boss* (2007), and the science-fiction films *Enthiran* (2010) and *2.0* (2018). He also starred in Pa. Ranjith's dramas *Kabali* (2016) and *Kaala* (2018), and Karthik Subbaraj's action film *Petta* (2019). He received the Padma Bhushan in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2021.
In 2023, Rajinikanth starred in Nelson Dilipkumar's action film *Jailer*. His 2024 releases included an extended cameo as Moideen Bhai in Aishwarya Rajinikanth's *Lal Salaam* and the lead role in T. J. Gnanavel's action-drama *Vettaiyan*. His subsequent films include Lokesh Kanagaraj's action thriller *Coolie* (2025) and Nelson Dilip Kumar's sequel *Jailer 2* (2026). Notable Upcoming Films Ashwath Marimuthu's *Dharman* (2027) and Nelson Dilip Kumar's *RKxKH Re-Union*.
Known For
Filmography
| 2027 | Dharman · as Dharman |
| 2026 | Jailer 2 · as Muthuvel 'tiger' Pandian |
| 2025 | Coolie · as Devaraj 'deva' |
| 2024 | Vettaiyan · as Sp V. Athiyan Ips |
| 2024 | Lal Salaam · as Moideen Bhai |
| 2023 | Jailer · as Muthuvel 'tiger' Pandian |
| 2021 | Annaatthe · as 'annaatthe' Kaalaiyaan |
| 2020 | |
| 2020 | Darbar · as Aadithya Arunachalam Ips |
| 2019 | Petta · as Petta 'kaali' Velan |
| 2018 | 2.0 · as Dr. Vaseegaran / Chitti / Kutti |
| 2018 | Kaala · as Karikaalan Vengaiyan 'kaala' |
| 2016 | Kabali · as 'kabali' Kabaliswaran |
| 2014 | Lingaa · as 'lingaa' K. Lingeswaran / Raja Lingeswaran |
| 2014 | Kochadaiiyaan · as Kochadaiiyaan / Ranadheeran / Senadheeran |
| 2011 | Ra.One · as Chitti / Self |
| 2010 | Enthiran · as Dr. Vaseegaran / Chitti |
| 2008 | Kathanayakudu · as Ashok Kumar |
| 2008 | Kuselan · as Ashok Kumar |
| 2007 | Sivaji · as Sivaji Arumugam |
| 2005 | Chandramukhi · as Dr. Saravanan / Vettaiyan Raja |
| 2002 | Baba · as Baba / Mahavatar Babaji |
| 2000 | Bulandi · as Ghajraj Thakur |
| 1999 | Padayappa · as Padayappa |
| 1997 | Arunachalam · as Arunachalam / Vedhachalam |
| 1995 | Bhagya Debata · as Singer (guest Appearence) |
| 1995 | Muthu · as Muthu / Muthu's Father |
| 1995 | Aatank Hi Aatank · as Munna |
| 1995 | Peda Rayudu · as Paparayudu |
| 1995 | Baasha · as Manikkam / Manik Baashha |
| 1994 | Veera · as Muthuveerappan |
| 1993 | Valli · as Veeraiyan |
| 1993 | Uzhaippaali · as Tamilarasan/tamilazhagan |
| 1993 | Ejamaan · as Kanthavelu Vaanavarayan |
| 1993 | Insaniyat Ke Devta · as Anwar |
| 1992 | Pandian · as Pandiyan |
| 1992 | Annamalai · as Annamalai |
| 1992 | Tyagi · as Shankar G. "dadhu" Dayal |
| 1992 | Mannan · as Krishnan |
| 1991 | Thalapathi · as Surya |
| 1991 | Nattukku Oru Nallavan · as Cast |
| 1991 | Shanti Kranti · as Inspector Subhash (tamil & Hindi Version) |
| 1991 | Phool Bane Angaray · as Inspector Ranjeet Singh |
| 1991 | Khoon Ka Karz · as Kishan |
| 1991 | Farishtay · as Arjun RamojiraoOn Plex |
| 1991 | Hum · as Kumar Malhotra |
| 1991 | Dharma Durai · as Dharmadurai |
| 1990 | Engal Swamy Ayyappan · as Cast |
| 1990 | |
| 1990 | Panakkaran · as Muthu |
| 1989 | Chaalbaaz · as Jaggu |
| 1989 | Bhrashtachar · as Abdul SattarOn Plex |
| 1989 | Mappilai · as Arumugam |
| 1989 | Raja Chinna Roja · as Raja |
| 1989 | Siva · as Siva (tiger) |
| 1989 | Gair Kaanooni · as Azam Khan |
| 1989 | Rajathi Raja · as Raja/chinnarasu |
| 1988 | Kodiparakkudu · as Erode Shivagiri / Dada |
| 1988 | Bloodstone · as Shyam Sabu |
| 1988 | Dharmathin Thalaivan · as Balu(lecturer) And Shankar |
| 1988 | Guru Sishyan · as Raja Aka Guru |
| 1988 | Ahlam Hind wa Kamilya · as (archive Footage) |
| 1988 | Tamacha · as Vicky |
| 1987 | Uttar Dakshin · as Shankar |
| 1987 | |
| 1987 | Manathil Uruthi Vendum · as Cameo |
| 1987 | Oor Kavalan · as Kangeyan |
| 1987 | Velaikkaaran · as Ragupathy |
| 1987 | |
| 1986 | |
| 1986 | Dosti Dushmani · as Inspector Ranjith |
| 1986 | Asli Naqli · as Birju Ustad |
| 1986 | Bhagwaan Dada · as Bhagwaan Dada |
| 1986 | Viduthalai · as Raja |
| 1986 | Jeevana Poratam · as Ravi |
| 1986 | |
| 1986 | Mr. Bharath · as Bharat |
| 1985 | Padikkathavan · as Rajendran |
| 1985 | Geraftaar · as Inspector Hussein (cameo Appearance) |
| 1985 | Sri Raghavendra · as Raghavendra Swami |
| 1985 | Wafadaar · as Ranga |
| 1985 | Bewafai · as Ranveer |
| 1985 | Unn Kannil Neer Vazhindal · as Ravi |
| 1985 | Naan Sigappu Manithan · as Professor Vijay / Robinhood |
| 1984 | |
| 1984 | |
| 1984 | Gangvaa · as Chameli |
| 1984 | |
| 1984 | Insaaf Kaun Karega · as Vikram Singh |
| 1984 | |
| 1984 | Thambikku Entha Ooru · as Balu |
| 1984 | Naan Mahaan Alla · as Viswanath |
| 1983 | Thanga Magan · as Arun |
| 1983 | Adutha Varisu · as Kannan |
| 1983 | Jeet Hamaari · as Raju |
| 1983 | |
| 1983 | |
| 1983 | Andhaa Kaanoon · as Vijay Kumar Singh |
| 1983 | |
| 1983 | Uruvangal Maralam · as God |
| 1983 | Paayum Puli · as Paayum Puli |
| 1982 | |
| 1982 | |
| 1982 | Pudhu Kavithai · as Anand |
| 1982 | |
| 1982 | |
| 1982 | |
| 1981 | Ranuva Veeran · as Raghu |
| 1981 | Netri Kann · as Chakravarthy/santhosh |
| 1981 | Thillu Mullu · as Chandran / Indiran |
| 1981 | Kazhugu · as Rajasekar |
| 1981 | Thee · as Rajshekhar 'raja' |
| 1980 | |
| 1980 | Polladhavan · as Manohar |
| 1980 | Ellam Un Kairasi · as Raja |
| 1980 | Kaali · as Kaali |
| 1980 | Johnny · as Johnny / Vidyasagar |
| 1980 | |
| 1980 | |
| 1980 | Ram Robert Rahim · as Ram |
| 1980 | |
| 1980 | Billa · as Billa / Rajappa |
| 1979 | |
| 1979 | Aarilirindhu Aruvathu Varai · as Santhanam |
| 1979 | Tiger · as Rashid |
| 1979 | Naan Vaazha Vaippen · as Michael D' Souza |
| 1979 | Dharma Yuddham · as Vijay |
| 1979 | Ninaithale Inikkum · as Deepak |
| 1979 | Thayillamal Nannilai · as 'pichuva' Pakkiri |
| 1979 | Alavuddinum Athbutha Vilakkum · as Kamaruddin |
| 1979 | Kuppathu Raja · as Jakku / Jayakumar |
| 1978 | Love in Singapore · as Ganesh |
| 1978 | |
| 1978 | |
| 1978 | Aval Appadithaan · as Thyagu |
| 1978 | Thappu Thalangal · as Devu |
| 1978 | Mullum Malarum · as Kaali |
| 1978 | Vanakathukuria Kathaliye · as Joe |
| 1978 | |
| 1978 | Bhairavi · as Mookaiyah |
| 1978 | Mangudi Minor · as Kumar |
| 1978 | Maathu Thappadha Maga · as Chandru |
| 1978 | |
| 1978 | Kiladi Kittu · as Inspector Srikanth |
| 1977 | |
| 1977 | Gayatri · as Rajarathnam |
| 1977 | Aadu Puli Attam · as Rajini |
| 1977 | Sahodarara Saval · as Somashekar |
| 1977 | Pathinaru Vayathinile · as Parattai |
| 1977 | Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri · as Sampath |
| 1977 | Kavikuyil · as Murugan |
| 1977 | Avargal · as Ramanathan |
| 1976 | Moondru Mudichu · as Prasath |
| 1976 | Anthuleni Katha · as Murthy |
| 1976 | Katha Sangama · as Kondaji |
| 1975 | Apoorva Raagangal · as Pandiyan |
| 2002 | Baba · as Screenplay |
| 2000 | |
| 1993 |
| 2015 | For the Love of a Man · as Self |
| 2000 | Aaghaaz · as Self (a Scene From A Movie) |
| 1993 | Pyara Bharat Yeh Kahe · as Self |
| 1982 | Agni Sakshi · as Self |