Happy Birthday Rajinikanth: 19 lesser-known facts about conductor-turned-superstar

First Published Dec 12, 2018, 2:15 PM IST

Kollywood superstar Rajinikanth has turned 68 today. Here are 19 lesser-known facts about Thalaiva.

Rajinikanth was working as a conductor in Bangalore's (now Bengaluru) state-run buses and his salary was Rs 750 per month

Rajinikanth was working as a conductor in Bangalore's (now Bengaluru) state-run buses and his salary was Rs 750 per month

Rajinikanth's real name is Shivaji Rao Gaikwad and he is of Maharashtrian origin. He is the son of Ramoji Rao Gaikwad and Jijabai. He was on December 12, 1950 in Bangalore

Rajinikanth's real name is Shivaji Rao Gaikwad and he is of Maharashtrian origin. He is the son of Ramoji Rao Gaikwad and Jijabai. He was on December 12, 1950 in Bangalore

His acting career started with mythological Kannada plays. He was much appreciated for the role of Duryodhana

His acting career started with mythological Kannada plays. He was much appreciated for the role of Duryodhana

Director K Balachander noticed Rajinikanth during a play and asked him to learn Tamil

Director K Balachander noticed Rajinikanth during a play and asked him to learn Tamil

Rajinikanth's first big commercial success was Billa, which was a remake of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Hindi movie Don

Rajinikanth's first big commercial success was Billa, which was a remake of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Hindi movie Don

T Rama Rao’s Andha Kanoon was Rajinikanth's first Hindi movie

T Rama Rao’s Andha Kanoon was Rajinikanth's first Hindi movie

Rajinikanth made an appearance in the English action movie Bloodstone that released in 1988

Rajinikanth made an appearance in the English action movie Bloodstone that released in 1988

Rajinikanth's film Raaja Chinna Roja was the first Tamil film that had animation

Rajinikanth's film Raaja Chinna Roja was the first Tamil film that had animation

Rajinikanth also has written screenplay. He tried his writing skills for Tamil film Valli

Rajinikanth also has written screenplay. He tried his writing skills for Tamil film Valli

Besides Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu, Rajinikanth has also acted in Bengali film, Bhagya Debata

Besides Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu, Rajinikanth has also acted in Bengali film, Bhagya Debata

Meena is the only actress who has acted with him as a child artist and then also as his heroine

Meena is the only actress who has acted with him as a child artist and then also as his heroine

Latha Rangachari, Rajinikanth's wife is eight years younger than him. The two met when Latha came to interview him for her college magazine. They got married in 1981

Latha Rangachari, Rajinikanth's wife is eight years younger than him. The two met when Latha came to interview him for her college magazine. They got married in 1981

First two years of Rajinikanth's career, he played only negative roles but got his first positive role in 1977 in the movie Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri

First two years of Rajinikanth's career, he played only negative roles but got his first positive role in 1977 in the movie Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri

Rajinikanth's Chandramukhi, directed by P Vasu, became the longest-running Tamil film in 2007. It was also dubbed in Turkish and German languages

Rajinikanth's Chandramukhi, directed by P Vasu, became the longest-running Tamil film in 2007. It was also dubbed in Turkish and German languages

Rajinikanth has starred in 11 Tamil remakes of Amitabh Bachchan films like Deewar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Laawaris and Don among others

Rajinikanth has starred in 11 Tamil remakes of Amitabh Bachchan films like Deewar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Laawaris and Don among others

For his blockbuster movie Sivaji, Rajinikanth received an acting fee of Rs 26 crore in 2007, making him the second highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan

For his blockbuster movie Sivaji, Rajinikanth received an acting fee of Rs 26 crore in 2007, making him the second highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan

Enthiran was included in Indian Institute of Management (IIM) as a case study to analyse the business of cinema and its success

Enthiran was included in Indian Institute of Management (IIM) as a case study to analyse the business of cinema and its success

Rajinikanth has 5.1 million followers on Twitter as on December 12, 2018

Rajinikanth has 5.1 million followers on Twitter as on December 12, 2018

The superstar is a follower of Hinduism and a firm believer of spirituality. He practices yoga and meditation

The superstar is a follower of Hinduism and a firm believer of spirituality. He practices yoga and meditation