Rajinikanth Turns 75: From Bus Conductor to Indian Cinema Icon

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth celebrated his 75th birthday, marking a remarkable journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of Indian cinema’s most enduring icons. Born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad in 1950, he is the son of a police constable and a homemaker. Before stardom, Rajinikanth worked as a bus conductor at the BMTC depot in Bengaluru a period he revisited during a surprise visit to Shanti Nagar in August 2023.

Rajinikanth’s rise in cinema began with stage performances, which eventually led him to the Madras Film Institute. It was there that director K. Balachander recognized his talent and launched him into Tamil cinema with the National Award–winning film Apoorva Raagangal (1975), starring alongside Kamal Haasan.

To celebrate the milestone, the team of Jailer 2, produced by Sun Pictures, shared a special video from the film’s sets, showing director Nelson and cinematographer Vijay Kartik Kannan joining Rajinikanth to cut a birthday cake.

Adding to the celebrations, his 1999 classic Padayappa has returned to cinemas in a remastered 4K release, giving fans a chance to relive the magic of one of his most iconic performances.

From his modest beginnings to superstardom, Rajinikanth’s rags-to-riches journey continues to inspire generations of fans, cementing his status as a legend of Indian cinema.