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The actor was once humiliated by a producer who questioned his worth. Later, he became one of the highest paid-stars in cinema. Published: November 6, 2024 4:25 PM IST By This actor who started with literally no one, worked a as a coolie and bus conductor, later became one of the biggest and impactful cine icons in Indian history.
We are talking about none other than Rajinikanth. Before becoming this huge superstar, Rajinikanth went through a very challenging phase in his life. The actor was struggling to find his footing in the industry.
A couple of weeks after his hit film 16 Vayathinile’s, featuring superstars Sridevi and Kamal Hassan, the actor was humiliated by a producer who questioned his worth and made him walk his home. Rajinikanth was once humiliated and thrown out by a producer Rajinikanth once revealed that how this incident actually pushed him to become a superstar. He shared how producer approached him for a role, which had a popular actor as the hero.
At the audio launch of Darbar in January 2020, the actor recalled, “It was a good character and fortunately I had the dates as well. I agreed and we discussed my remuneration. I started by quoting Rs 10,000 and eventually agreed for Rs 6,000.
I had asked him a token advance of Rs 100 or Rs 200, just to confirm the role. The producer said that he’d pay Rs 1,000 later as he didn’t have money on him. On the day of the shoot, the production manager did not pay him the advance.
” Rajinikanth looked up for a telephone booth and called up the producer to ask him about his advance. “He asked me to come to the shooting spot and before I could have my make-up on, he’d pay me the advance. Next day, I went to the shoot and I still didn’t get my advance salary.
The production manager told me that the hero had arrived and asked me to sit for the make-up. I refused. I told him that I won’t proceed without getting Rs 1,000.
” Rajinikanth was in a rude shock when he finally went on the sets, “The producer arrived at the AVM Studios in an Ambassador car, charged at me furiously, and unceremoniously threw me out of the project by saying that I wasn’t that big an artist to create such a fuss.” The actor said that he was so dejected by this that it took him two years of relentless hard work to become the superstar that we know. But he felt his achievement was purchasing an Italian-made Fiat catr worth Rs 4.
25 lakh which was pre-owned by the owners of AVM Studios. Rajinikanth said, “You know, at that time, my street couldn’t even accommodate the car, but I felt proud. I hired a foreign driver because it was a foreign car.
After a few weeks of search, we found a 6-feet tall Anglo Indian driver named Robinson. I ensured he wore a uniform with a belt and a cap. The car entered AVM Studios and Robinson parked it where the producer used to park his vehicle.
Many looked at the car, and thought the Governor had come to AVM. I got down, smoked a couple of cigarettes, and went straight to my guru KB (K Balachander) sir’s home in Alwarpet to get his blessings.” Finishing the story, Rajinikanth said that his intention wasn’t to showboat, but to remind the word anyone can do.
“You need to be at the right place, time and have the blessings of people,” he concluded. The superstar will be next seen in the film Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and .
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