As Tamil cinema celebrates 50 years of Rajinikanth, fans are revisiting some of the superstar’s most candid interviews — including one where he explained why he doesn’t hide his age off-screen.
On screen, Rajinikanth dazzles audiences with his trademark swagger, flashy outfits, and stylish wigs, as seen in his latest blockbuster Coolie. But in real life, the actor embraces a simple look — plain clothes, receding hairline, and grey hair.
“Why Give Yourself Discomfort?”
In a 2010 interview with The Telegraph India, Rajinikanth was asked how fans react when they see him without his larger-than-life screen persona. His response reflected both humility and practicality:
“It is important to them how you look on celluloid; they’re paying for that. There they feel: my hero should look like a hero. On celluloid if you come like that they will hate it. Outside it doesn’t matter. People are intelligent, they know everything. So why unnecessarily give yourself discomfort?”
On Feeling His Age
The superstar also admitted that age occasionally makes action and romance on screen challenging:
“Sometimes when I do action scenes or when I dance, I feel it. Age is age. But technicians, directors, they know and they manage. When doing a romantic scene now, you feel awkward. Even if you say it’s just acting, you do feel a little embarrassed.”
His comments came after working opposite Aishwarya Rai in Enthiran (2010), where the age gap became a talking point.
The Secret Behind His Fitness
Rajinikanth credited his fitness to good genes, yoga, and meditation. He noted that his parents had passed down neither diabetes nor high blood pressure, which, he believed, contributed to his enduring health and stamina on screen.
Celebrating 50 Years of Stardom
On August 14, Rajinikanth’s latest release Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, stormed into theatres and broke multiple opening day records. The milestone also saw tributes pour in from colleagues across Indian cinema, including Kamal Haasan, Hrithik Roshan, Mammootty, and Mohanlal.
Even after five decades, Rajinikanth remains an icon whose humility off-screen contrasts with his magnetic on-screen presence — a duality that continues to endear him to fans worldwide.
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