Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), Government of Abu Dhabi handing over UAE Golden Visa to super star Rajinikanth in the presence of Yusuffali MA, CMD of Lulu Group. Also seen are V. Nandakumar, Rejith Radhakrishnan and Biju Kottarathil of Lulu Group
Rajinikanth met UAE Minister Sheikh Nahyan and visited the new BAPS Hindu Mandir and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi….reports Asian Lite News
The Abu Dhabi government has awarded Superstar Rajinikanth the prestigious UAE Golden Visa.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), Government of Abu Dhabi handed over the Emirates ID to the legendary actor in a function held at DCT HQ in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Yusuff Ali MA, prominent NRI and Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber, who facilitated the entire process along with other officials.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the prestigious UAE Golden visa from Abu Dhabi Govt. My heartfelt thanks to Abu Dhabi govt. and also to my good friend Mr. Yusuffali MA, CMD of Lulu Group for facilitating this Visa and for all his support” said Rajanikanth after receiving the UAE Golden visa.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), Government of Abu Dhabi handing over UAE Golden Visa to super star Rajinikanth in the presence of Yusuffali MA, CMD of Lulu Group. Also seen are V. Nandakumar, Rejith Radhakrishnan and Biju Kottarathil of Lulu Group
The superstar also called on Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and UAE Minister for Tolerance at his palace in Abu Dhabi. Later Rajinikanth also went to the newly constructed BAPS Hindu Mandir for darshan and to the Sheikh Zayed Graand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Rajinikanth came to Abu Dhabi after wrapping up the shooting of his upcoming movie Vettaiyan. Recently, Rajini was spotted travelling with Yusuffali in the latter’s Rolls Royce in Abu Dhabi, the video of which has gone viral in the social media. Yusuff Ali is the Chairman of Lulu Group, one of the largest business conglomerate in the middle east.
On the work front, Amitabh’s latest release is ‘Good Bye’. He will next be seen in ‘Uunchaai’, which also stars Parineeti Chopra…reports Asian Lite News
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who turns 80 today, has shared that another 365 days have begun for him and thanked everyone for showering him with love and care.
The cine icon took to his blog and wrote: “And another 365 .. and another begins .. as do many other begins .. beginnings are required .. they provide ends .. and ends need love and grace and care to be accomplished ..”
He then thanked all his fans, whom he lovingly calls his extended family or EF, for showering him with all the love he has received.
“It is impossible for me to even attempt what your love and affection means to me .. so I fold my hands and pray for all in the spirit of generous gratitude.”
Known as the Shehnshah of Bollywood, Amitabh is regarded as one of the most successful and influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. He has worked in over 100 films and has even lent his iconic baritone voice for several songs in Hindi movies.
On the work front, Amitabh’s latest release is ‘Good Bye’. He will next be seen in ‘Uunchaai’, which also stars Parineeti Chopra.
‘He always inspired me’
Tamil superstar Rajinikanth joined several stars from South in wishing Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan a very happy birthay as the Shahenshah of Bollywood turned 80 on Tuesday.
Big B is someone who has always inspired me, says Rajinikanth.
Taking to Twitter, Rajinikanth, who has been good friends with the Bollywood legend, wrote: “The legend… Someone who has inspired me always. The one true sensation and superhero of our glorious Indian film fraternity enters 80. Happy birthday my dearest and most respected Amitabh ji. With lots of love and best regards always.”
Rajinikanth wasn’t the only star from the south to say that he had been inspired by the legend.
Telugu star Ram Charan, who is also the son of Megastar Chiranjeevi, too wished the legend on the occasion of his birthday and said that he too had been inspired by him.
Ram Charan tweeted: “Happy Birthday Bachchan Garu! Thank you for being an institution of acting and goodwill. Always inspired by you!”
Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly too was among the first to wish Amitabh Bachchan on Twitter. Posting a picture of himself with Amitabh Bachchan, he tweeted: “Happy Birthday Sir, wishing you a long life ahead and many more blockbusters ahead.”
Wishes pour in
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, Telugu Superstar Chiranjeevi and Malayalam Superstar Mammootty were among those who joined scores of people from across the country in wishing Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan a happy birthday on Tuesday.
Taking to Twitter, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister wrote: “Wishing a very happy birthday to the living legend and the most iconic star of Indian cinema Amitabh Bachchan, who is turning 80 today.”
“May your trademark artistic characteristics continue to influence Indian cinema in future as well and enthrall the audience for many more decades.”
Wishing a very happy birthday to the living legend & the most iconic star of Indian Cinema @SrBachchan who is turning 80 today.
May your trademark artistic characteristics continue to influence the Indian Cinema in future as well and enthrall the audience for many more decades.
Telugu Superstar Chiranjeevi, who has worked with Amitabh Bachchan, in his birthday tweet, said: “Happy 80th birthday my beloved Guruji Amitabh Bachchan sir! May the Almighty grant you good health, strength and every wish that you would ever have.”
“You are the Everest among us artistes and we are in eternal awe of your talent and your accomplishments. More power to you Amit ji!”
Actor Mammootty too greeted the Indian film legend on Twitter. He wrote: “Happy Birthday Dear Amithji. Stay Healthy and Blessed.”
TN CM M K Stalin, Superstars Chiranjeevi, Mammootty wish Big B on b’day
Anand Pandit pledges meals for 8,000 children
As it is megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday today, his friend and producer Anand Pandit “wanted to celebrate this momentous day with a special gesture”. He has pledged to distribute 8000 meals in orphanages across Mumbai and Gujarat. He will also be donating 800 hearing aids to senior citizens and kids in Mumbai.
He said: “At a time when most people would be content to wind down and enjoy the fruits of their labour, Mr Bachchan is at the peak of his powers as an actor and continues to strike awe in the hearts of his millions of fans. Completing eight ‘parikramas’ around the earth with such joy and magnificence is no small milestone and I wanted to make a special gesture to celebrate this momentous day.”
To mark Big B’s birthday, Pandit has pledged to distribute and donate to the needy. He explains the motive behind this gesture:
Anand Pandit(twitter)
“As a fan, I watched every Bachchan film on the big screen and then had the privilege of working with him in couple of films. What I have learnt from observing him is that human-beings have immense power to not just achieve extraordinary success for themselves but to also inspire others to dream big and achieve unimaginable glory.”
“The impact he has had on others through his life and work is immeasurable and I wanted to pay tribute to the man and his legacy by making this gesture.”
It is also said that Tammannaah Bhatia has been roped in for the project. There has, however, been no official confirmation in this regard…reports Asian Lite News
Shooting for director Nelson Dilipkumar’s eagerly-awaited ‘Jailer’, featuring superstar Rajinikanth in the lead, began here on Monday.
Sun Pictures, the production house behind Rajinikanth’s 169th film, on Monday announced: “Jailer begins his action Today!”
Music director Anirudh, late on Sunday night, had dropped hints that the shooting was to begin on Monday. He took to Twitter and released a poster that said: “Jailer varaaru”, or “Jailer is coming”.
Sources say that shooting for the film is now underway at a venue that, at one point, used to house a popular hotel and restaurant in the city. Rajinikanth is to shoot in a police station set today.
On Sunday, rumours doing the rounds in the industry suggested that a test shoot was being carried out on the set and that artists were seen carrying daggers and knives for their parts.
It is also said that Tammannaah Bhatia has been roped in for the project. There has, however, been no official confirmation in this regard.
In fact, the only actress to have confirmed her presence in the project is Ramya Krishnan, who is believed to have told a publication that she had begun working on the film from August 10.
Well-known stylist Aalim Hakim is roped in to style the Superstar for this film.
The film is being produced by Kalanithi Maran of Sun Pictures and has Anirudh scoring its music.
Other members of the cast and crew are yet to be officially announced by the unit.
Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty too joined scores of others in wishing the superstar, who he said had been “Ruling over five decades with an enduring style”…reports Asian Lite News.
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan was the latest to express his birthday greetings to his friend and fellow actor Rajinikanth, who celebrates his 72nd birthday on Sunday.
Taking to Twitter, Kamal Haasan, in Tamil, said, “Birthday greetings to my sweet friend Rajinikanth. I wholeheartedly wish that he remains hale and hearty for several years and entertains his fans.”
Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty too joined scores of others in wishing the superstar, who he said had been “Ruling over five decades with an enduring style”. The sound designer also observed that Rajini’s life story was a true inspiration for millions.
Telugu stars Ram Charan and Mahesh Babu too were among those who wished Rajinikanth on Sunday.
Ram Charan said, “Wishing our very own superstar Rajinikanth garu a very happy birthday! Your style and its impact will always inspire generations to come!!”
Actor Mahesh Babu for his part said, “To the epitome of style & charisma.. Wishing you a very happy birthday Rajinikanth sir! Great health and happiness always.”
PM Modi greets Rajini
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday joined scores of people from all walks of life in wishing megastar Rajinikanth, who celebrates his 72nd birthday on December 12, a very happy birthday.
The Prime Minister, who took to Twitter to wish the actor, said, “A very happy birthday to Rajinikanth Ji. May he keep inspiring people with his creativity and phenomenal acting. May Almighty bless him with a long and healthy life.”
A very happy birthday to @rajinikanth Ji. May he keep inspiring people with his creativity and phenomenal acting. May Almighty bless him with a long and healthy life.
Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin too had wished the superstar of Tamil cinema good health.
Stalin, in his birthday greetings in Tamil, said that he wished Rajinikanth, who was setting foot into his 72nd year, entertained the Tamil people with his incomparable screen presence for several more years.
Rajinikanth’s son-in-law and one of the film industry’s top actors, Dhanush, too expressed his love for his father-in-law on social media.
Dhanush said, “Happy birthday My thalaiva !! The one and only SUPERSTAR RAJINIKANTH sir .. love you so much.”
Happy birthday my thalaiva !! The one and only SUPERSTAR RAJINIKANTH sir .. love you so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Calling Rajinikanth an epitome of humility, one of Malayalam cinema’s top stars Mohanlal said, “Happiest birthday wishes dearest Rajinikanth sir.. You are the epitome of humility. Prayers for your good health and happiness always.”
Birthday wishes and greetings continue to pour in from all over the country to the actor who is known as much for his humility as for his superstardom.
The superstar, who used to work as a bus conductor before entering film industry, dedicated his award to his old bus driver friend, who suggested him to join films…reports Asian Lite News.
As the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the superstar of Tamil cinema Rajnikanth crosses yet another milestone in a career that spans 45 years and continues to go strong. Rajnikanth was presented the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 67th National Film Awards function by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu in the national capital on Monday.
The Phalke Award is the latest of several honours that the thespian has garnered through his career. Apart from four Tamil Nadu State Film Best Actor Awards, and a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award, Rajinikanth is the recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2000, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. He is the second Tamil actor after Sivaji Ganesan to receive the prestigious film award.
However, bracketing Rajinikanth as a Tamil movie star would be a grave injustice to the legions of fans and admirers he has acquired across regions and languages – Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi – he has acted in all the movie industries. His popularity breaches regional and national boundaries too. There was a time, when Rajinikanth was a big time craze in faraway Japan.
His life itself is reminiscent of some of the rags to riches roles he has successfully portrayed on the big screen. Born in erstwhile Mysore state as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, in a middle-class Marathi family of Bangalore, young Rajinikanth took up several odd jobs before landing a job as a bus conductor in the Karnataka capital. The acting bug caught him pretty young, and egged on by his bus-driver friend Raj Bahadur, he took off to then Mecca of south Indian cinema – Madras, now Chennai.
Interestingly, the 70-year-old superstar who has held sway over the silver screen for several decades, began his career as the quintessential bad man on screen. Legendary director K. Balachander’s find, Rajinikanth made his debut with a small role in ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ in 1975. Thereafter, a series of negative roles in a succession of movies ensured he became a known face to movie-goers. His inimitable style quotient included mannerisms such as popping a cigarette and lighting it, or rocking on his heels while rattling off long dialogues, with a sneering smile plastered across his face.
In real life too, in the conservative Chennai society of the 70s and 80s, Rajinikanth briefly enjoyed a reputation as a bit of a bohemian. His smoking and alcohol-loving lifestyle used to be the talk of the town. Incidentally he first met his wife Latha, when she came to interview him for a college magazine.
Gradually, Rajinikanth took control of his life and turned a new page altogether. For some time, he made the headlines for his visits to his Himalayan guru’s abode, seeking solutions to many of society’s ills.
But throughout, Rajinikanth never lost sight of his cinematic career goals. Thanks to a couple of lucky breaks, including the hit movie ‘Priya’ where he portrays a detective, Rajinikanth had transitioned to lead roles. Along the way, he worked in Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam movies, in addition to the occasional Hindi movie like ‘Andha Kanoon’ and ‘Hum’ to name a few.
It was movies like ‘Baasha’, ‘Annamalai’, and ‘Sivaji’ that cemented Rajinikanth’s cult status. The poor young man with a heart of gold, who wins over the rich and mighty is a recurring theme in many of his movies, and something that fans relate to every time he appears on screen.
Rajinikanth is also known for his sense of fair play. Just as he commanded astronomical remunerations for his movies, his conduct was said to be exemplary if his films tanked at the box-office. The Tamil film industry saw a new trend set when he supposedly called his film producers home and reimbursed their losses.
But Rajinikanth has also not stepped back from challenging roles either. Be it ‘Chandramukhi’ which dealt with the paranormal, or ‘Enthiran’ which set the ball rolling for sci-fi in Indian movies, Rajnikanth has done it with elan.
The superstar had also tried his hand at politics but better sense prevailed and ahead of the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, he disbanded his political party on December 31, 2020. Earlier too, he has been politically active, albeit from the sidelines when Jayalalithaa as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister made it to the headlines over her alleged corruption, Rajinikanth railed against her and contributed to the DMK victory in the polls of 1996. In later years, Rajinikanth cozied upto the BJP but never went beyond verbal support for the party.
With age and health concerns turning out to be hurdles, Rajinikanth has become choosy about his roles. ‘Annaatthe’ is his latest big screen outing currently under production. Meanwhile, the younger generation comprising of daughters Soundarya, Aishwarya, and son-in=law and actor Dhanush are active in the filmmaking business.
National Film Awards attended by Rajinikanth (Conferred with Dada Saheb Phalke) (Pics By Pallav Paliwal)
Dhanush too figured in the honours list on Monday, bagging the Best Actor award for his role in Tamil feature film ‘Asuran’.
Forty-five years ago, few including the plain-looking, swarthy young Rajinikanth himself, would have imagined that the most prestigious cinematic award of the land would be his. But on Monday, 70-year-old Shivaji Rao Gaekwad a.k.a. Rajinikanth did just that. And he didn’t forget the people who made it possible – his brother Satyanarayana Rao, friend Raj Bahadur, mentor K. Balachander, and his fans.
