Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth (born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad on December 12, 1950) is an Indian actor, producer, and screenwriter who works primarily in Tamil cinema. Born in Bangalore (now Bengaluru) to a Marathi Hindu family, he worked as a bus conductor for the Bangalore Transport Service before joining the Madras Film Institute to pursue a diploma in acting. He made his cinematic debut with a brief but impactful antagonistic role in K. Balachander's Tamil drama *Apoorva Raagangal* (1975). Often referred to universally as "Superstar" or simply "Thalaivar" (Leader), Rajinikanth has established himself as one of the most successful, influential, and highest-paid actors in the history of Indian cinema, known for his unique acting style, distinct line delivery, and charismatic screen presence. After beginning his career primarily portraying villains and anti-heroes, he gradually transitioned to lead roles, achieving massive stardom in the late 1970s and 1980s. His collaborations with director S. P. Muthuraman in films like *Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri* (1977), *Murattu Kaalai* (1980), and *Nallavanuku Nallavan* (1984) firmly cemented his status as a leading action hero. The 1990s witnessed him delivering monumental, industry-defining blockbusters that achieved unprecedented box office success, most notably Suresh Krissna's *Annamalai* (1992) and *Baasha* (1995), K. S. Ravikumar's *Muthu* (1995)—which gained a massive cult following in Japan—and *Padayappa* (1999). His unique ability to blend high-octane action, mass appeal, and spiritual philosophy in his films made him an unparalleled phenomenon across the country. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Rajinikanth continued his unparalleled box-office reign, consistently pushing the boundaries of Indian commercial cinema. He delivered gargantuan blockbusters including P. Vasu's horror-comedy *Chandramukhi* (2005) and reunited with director Shankar for the spectacular successes *Sivaji: The Boss* (2007) and the science-fiction epics *Enthiran* (2010) and its sequel *2.0* (2018). His performances in Pa. Ranjith's politically charged dramas *Kabali* (2016) and *Kaala* (2018), and Karthik Subbaraj's stylish *Petta* (2019), were highly praised for combining his quintessential swagger with substantive character depth. Honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award—India's highest award in the field of cinema—in 2021, he is a cultural icon whose fandom transcends generations. In his seventies, Rajinikanth continues to headline colossal projects and rewrite box-office records. In 2023, he starred in Nelson Dilipkumar's blockbuster actioner *Jailer*, which emerged as one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time. His 2024 releases include a prominent extended cameo as Moideen Bhai in his daughter Aishwarya Rajinikanth's *Lal Salaam* and the lead role in T. J. Gnanavel's action-drama *Vettaiyan*. His highly anticipated upcoming slate includes Lokesh Kanagaraj's massive action thriller *Coolie*, slated for a worldwide release in August 2025. Furthermore, he is set to reunite with Nelson Dilipkumar for the massive sequel *Jailer 2*, which is expected to arrive in cinemas in late 2026.
Sivaji: The Boss
(Sivaji Arumugam)
Ra.One
(Chitti / Self)
Kuselan
(Ashok Kumar)
Vettaiyan
(SP V. Athiyan IPS)
Bloodstone
(Shyam Sabu)
Thalapathi
(Surya)
Mannan
(Krishnan)
Arunachalam
(Arunachalam / Vedhachalam)
Muthu
(Muthu / Muthu's father)
Veera
(Muthuveerappan)
Valli
(Veeraiyan)
Athisaya Piravi
Raja Chinna Roja
(Raja)
Kodi Parakuthu
(Erode Shivagiri / Dada)
Dharmathin Thalaivan
(Balu(lecturer) and Shankar)
Manithan
Oorkavalan
(Kangeyan)
Velaikkaran
(Ragupathy)
Manathil Uruthi Vendum
(Cameo)
Naan Adimai Illai
Maaveeran
Mr. Bharath
(Bharat)
Viduthalai
(Raja)
Un Kannil Neer Vazhinthal...
(Ravi)
Sri Raghavendrar
(Raghavendra Swami)
Thambikku Entha Ooru
(Balu)
Kai Kodukkum Kai
Nallavanukku Nallavan
Anbulla Rajinikanth
Thanga Magan
(Arun)
Uruvavugal Maralam
(God)
Sivappu Sooriyan
Adutha Varisu
(Kannan)
Thudikkum Karangal
Paayum Puli
(Paayum Puli)
Thanikattu Raja
Pudhu Kavithai
(Anand)
Enkeyo Ketta Kural
Nandri, Meendum Varuga
Ranga
Moondru Mugam
Kazhugu
(Rajasekar)
Netrikan
(Chakravarthy/Santhosh)
Naan Potta Saval
Kaali
(Kaali)
Anbukku Naan Adimai
Murattu Kaalai
Ellam Un Kairasi
(Raja)
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
(Kamaruddin)
Ninaithale Inikkum
(Deepak)
Kuppathu Raja
(Jakku / Jayakumar)
Annai Oru Alayam
Thaayillamal Naanillai
('Pichuva' Pakkiri)
Naan Vazhavaippen
(Michael D' Souza)
Dharma Yuddam
(Vijay)
Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
(Santhanam)
Mangudi Minor
(Kumar)
Iraivan Kodutha Varam
(Rajnikanth)
Aval Appadithan
(Thyagu)
Aayiram Jenmangal
Padayappa
(Padayappa)
Vanakkathukuriya Kathaliye
(Joe)
Thai Meethu Sathiyam
Sadhurangam
Mullum Malarum
(Kaali)
Justice Gopinath
(Ravi)
Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu
Bairavi
(Mookaiyah)
Thappu Thalangal
(Devu)
Shankar Salim Simon
(Simon)
Priya
(Ganesh)
Kavikkuyil
(Murugan)
Aaru Pushpangal
Gayathri
(Rajarathnam)
Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram
(Veeraiyan)
16 Vayathinile
(Parattai)
Aadu Puli Attam
(Rajini)
Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri
(Sampath)
Moondru Mudichu
(Prasath)
Apoorva Raagangal
(Pandiyan)
Thillu Mullu
(Chandran / Indiran)
Baasha
(Manikkam / Manik Baashha)
Annamalai
(Annamalai)
Pandiyan
(Pandiyan)
Chandramukhi
(Dr. Saravanan / Vettaiyan Raja)
Jailer
(Muthuvel 'Tiger' Pandian)
Anthuleni Katha
(Murthy)
Pedarayudu
(Paparayudu)
Coolie
(Devaraj 'Deva')
Aatank Hi Aatank
(Munna)
Bulandi
(Ghajraj Thakur)
Chaalbaaz
(Jaggu)
Kathanayakudu
(Ashok Kumar)
Andhaa Kaanoon
(Vijay Kumar Singh)
Gangvaa
(Chameli)
Kochadaiiyaan
(Kochadaiiyaan / Ranadheeran / Senadheeran)
Naan Mahaan Alla
(Viswanath)
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
Garjanai
Thai Veedu
Naan Sigappu Manithan
(Professor Vijay / Robinhood)
Padikkadavan
(Rajendran)
Yejaman
(Kanthavelu Vaanavarayan)
Baba
(Baba / Mahavatar Babaji)
Billa
(Billa / Rajappa)
Rajathi Raja
(Raja/Chinnarasu)
Lingaa
(Raja Lingeswaran / Lingaa)
Guru Sishyan
(Raja aka Guru)
Avargal
(Ramanathan)
Agni Sakshi
(Self)
Yaar?
Tamacha
(Vicky)
Gair Kanooni
(Azam Khan)
Farishtay
(Arjun Ramojirao)
Uttar Dakshin
(Shankar)
Insaniyat Ke Devta
(Anwar)
Khoon Ka Karz
(Kishan)
Mahaguru
(Vijay / Mahaguru)
Meri Adalat
(Inspector Ashok)
Bhagwaan Dada
(Bhagwaan Dada)
Katha Sangama
(Kondaji)
Baalu Jenu
(Vasu)
Chilakamma Cheppindi
(Ravi)
Ondu Premada Kathe
(Chairman of village panchayat)
Sahodarara Savaal
(Somashekar)
Kumkuma Rakshe
Tholireyi Gadichindi
Aame Katha
Galaate Samsaara
(Sundar)
Kiladi Kittu
(Inspector Srikanth)
Annadammula Savaal
Maathu Tappada Maga
(Chandru)
Paavathin Sambalam
(Kathiravan)
Iddaru Asadhyule
(Inspector Bhaskar)
Tiger
(Rashid)
Natchathiram
Ram Robert Rahim
(Ram)
Johnny
(Johnny / Vidyasagar)
Polladhavan
(Manohar)
Thee
(Rajshekhar 'Raja')
Pokkiri Raja
John Jani Janardhan
Wafadaar
(Ranga)
Bewafai
(Ranveer)
Nyayam Meere Cheppali
(Atmaram)
Kodai Mazhai
(Self)
Jeevana Poratam
(Ravi)
Asli Naqli
(Birju Ustad)
Dosti Dhushmani
(Inspector Ranjith)
Insaaf Kaun Karega
(Vikram Singh)
Daku Hasina
Siva
(Siva (Tiger))
Mappillai
(Arumugam)
Bhrashtachar
(Abdul Sattar)
Dharma Durai
(Dharmadurai)
Phool Bane Angaray
(Inspector Ranjeet Singh)
Tyagi
(Shankar G. "Dadhu" Dayal)
Uzhaippali
(Tamilarasan/Tamilazhagan)
Bhagya Debata
(Singer (Guest appearence))
Panakkaran
(Muthu)
Lal Salaam
(Moideen Bhai)
Endhiran Making of Robot
(Self)
Kabali
('Kabali' Kabaliswaran)
Periya Idathu Pillai
(Self)
Chithirame Chithirame
2.0
(Dr. Vaseegaran / Chitti / Kutti)
Geraftaar
(Inspector Hussein (Cameo appearance))
Kaala
(Karikaalan Vengaiyan 'Kaala')
Hum
(Kumar Malhotra)
Vayasu Pilichindi
(Murali)
Petta
(Petta 'Kaali' Velan)
Darbar
(Aadithya Arunachalam IPS)
Saranam Ayyappa
Annaatthe
('Annaatthe' Kaalaiyaan)
Sashti Viratham
(Mahout)
Cinema Veeran
(Self (voice))
Ranuva Veeran
(Raghu)
Untitled Rajnikanth - Nithilan Saminathan Film
KHxRK: Reunion
Shanti Kranti
(Inspector Subhash (Tamil & Hindi Version))
Enthiran
(Dr. Vaseegaran / Chitti)
Dharman
(Dharman)
Dreams of Hind and Camilia
((archive footage))
Jailer 2
(Muthuvel 'Tiger' Pandian)
Hum Mein Shahenshah Koun
Ilaiyaraaja
(Self)
Into the Wild with Bear Grylls & Rajinikanth
Into the Wild with Bear Grylls & Akshay Kumar
Kabali
(Playback Singer)
Annaatthe
(Playback Singer)
Jigarthanda DoubleX
(Thanks)
Jailer
(Playback Singer)
Baba
(Producer)
Baba
(Screenplay)
Baba
(Story)
Chennai Express
(Thanks)
Kochadaiiyaan
(Playback Singer)
Mannan
(Playback Singer)
Valli
(Producer)
Valli
(Writer)
Baba
(Playback Singer)
Padayappa
(Story Developer)