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Rajinikanth
Acting
Biography
Rajinikanth (born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad; 12 December 1950) is an Indian actor, producer, and screenwriter who works primarily in Tamil cinema. He made his cinematic debut in a supporting antagonistic role in K. Balachander's Tamil drama *Apoorva Raagangal* (1975). Known for his distinctive acting style and dialogue delivery, he has become an established and commercially bankable actor in Indian cinema.
After initially portraying villains and anti-heroes, Rajinikanth transitioned to lead roles during the late 1970s and 1980s. His collaborations with director S. P. Muthuraman included *Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri* (1977), *Murattu Kaalai* (1980), and *Nallavanukku Nallavan* (1984). His notable films…
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Rajinikanth (born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad; 12 December 1950) is an Indian actor, producer, and screenwriter who works primarily in Tamil cinema. He made his cinematic debut in a supporting antagonistic role in K. Balachander's Tamil drama *Apoorva Raagangal* (1975). Known for his distinctive acting style and dialogue delivery, he has become an established and commercially bankable actor in Indian cinema. After initially portraying villains and anti-heroes, Rajinikanth transitioned to lead roles during the late 1970s and 1980s. His collaborations with director S. P. Muthuraman included *Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri* (1977), *Murattu Kaalai* (1980), and *Nallavanukku Nallavan* (1984). His notable films of the 1990s included Suresh Krisnna's *Annamalai* (1992) and *Baashha* (1995), K. S. Ravikumar's *Muthu* (1995), and *Padayappa* (1999). During the 2000s and 2010s, Rajinikanth appeared in P. Vasu's horror-comedy *Chandramukhi* (2005), Shankar's action film *Sivaji: The Boss* (2007), and the science-fiction films *Enthiran* (2010) and *2.0* (2018). He also starred in Pa. Ranjith's dramas *Kabali* (2016) and *Kaala* (2018), and Karthik Subbaraj's action film *Petta* (2019). He received the Padma Bhushan in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2021. In 2023, Rajinikanth starred in Nelson Dilipkumar's action film *Jailer*. His 2024 releases included an extended cameo as Moideen Bhai in Aishwarya Rajinikanth's *Lal Salaam* and the lead role in T. J. Gnanavel's action-drama *Vettaiyan*. His subsequent films include Lokesh Kanagaraj's action thriller *Coolie* (2025) and Nelson Dilip Kumar's sequel *Jailer 2* (2026). Notable Upcoming Films Ashwath Marimuthu's *Dharman* (2027) and Nelson Dilip Kumar's *RKxKH Re-Union*.
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BODY OF WORK
Rajinikanth's Filmography
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Dharman
as Dharman
Jailer 2
as 'Tiger' Muthuvel Pandian
Coolie
as Devaraj 'Deva'
Vettaiyan
as SP V. Athiyan IPS
Lal Salaam
as Moideen Bhai
Jailer
as Muthuvel 'Tiger' Pandian
Annaatthe
as 'Annaatthe' Kaalaiyaan
Darbar
as Aadithya Arunachalam IPS
Petta
as Petta 'Kaali' Velan
2.0
as Dr. Vaseegaran / Chitti / Kutti
Kaala
as Karikaalan Vengaiyan 'Kaala'
Cinema Veeran
as Self (voice)
Kabali
as 'Kabali' Kabaliswaran
Lingaa
as 'Lingaa' K. Lingeswaran / Raja Lingeswaran
Kochadaiiyaan
as Kochadaiiyaan / Ranadheeran / Senadheeran
Ra.One
as Chitti / Self
Enthiran
as Dr. Vaseegaran / Chitti
Endhiran Making of Robot
as Self
Kuselan
as Ashok Kumar
Kathanayakudu
as Ashok Kumar
Sivaji: The Boss
as Sivaji Arumugam
Chandramukhi
as Dr. Saravanan / Vettaiyan Raja
Baba
as Baba / Mahavatar Babaji
Bulandi
as Ghajraj Thakur
Padayappa
as Padayappa
Bhagya Debata
as Singer (Guest appearence)
Arunachalam
as Arunachalam / Vedhachalam
Muthu
as Muthu / Muthu's father
Aatank Hi Aatank
as Munna
Pedarayudu
as Paparayudu
Baasha
as Manikkam / Manik Baashha
Veera
as Muthuveerappan
Valli
as Veeraiyan
Uzhaippali
as Tamilarasan/Tamilazhagan
Yejaman
as Kanthavelu Vaanavarayan
Insaniyat Ke Devta
as Anwar
Pandiyan
as Pandiyan
Annamalai
as Annamalai
Tyagi
as Shankar G. "Dadhu" Dayal
Mannan
as Krishnan
Thalapathi
as Surya
Shanti Kranti
as Inspector Subhash (Tamil & Hindi Version)
Phool Bane Angaray
as Inspector Ranjeet Singh
Khoon Ka Karz
as Kishan
Farishtay
as Arjun Ramojirao
Hum
as Kumar Malhotra
Dharma Durai
as Dharmadurai
Athisaya Piravi
Periya Idathu Pillai
as Self
Panakkaran
as Muthu
Chaalbaaz
as Jaggu
Bhrashtachar
as Abdul Sattar
Kodi Parakuthu
as Erode Shivagiri / Dada
Mappillai
as Arumugam
Raja Chinna Roja
as Raja
Siva
as Siva (Tiger)
Gair Kanooni
as Azam Khan
Rajathi Raja
as Raja/Chinnarasu
Bloodstone
as Shyam Sabu
Dharmathin Thalaivan
as Balu(lecturer) and Shankar
Guru Sishyan
as Raja aka Guru
Dreams of Hind and Camilia
as (archive footage)
Tamacha
as Vicky
Uttar Dakshin
as Shankar
No Poster
Manathil Uruthi Vendum
as Cameo
No Poster
Oorkavalan
as Kangeyan
Insaaf Kaun Karega
as Vikram Singh
Manithan
Velaikkaran
as Ragupathy
Daku Hasina
Maaveeran
Dosti Dhushmani
as Inspector Ranjith
Asli Naqli
as Birju Ustad
Kodai Mazhai
as Self
Bhagwaan Dada
as Bhagwaan Dada
Viduthalai
as Raja
Jeevana Poratam
as Ravi
Naan Adimai Illai
Mr. Bharath
as Bharat
Padikkadavan
as Rajendran
Yaar?
Bewafai
as Ranveer
Geraftaar
as Inspector Hussein (Cameo appearance)
Wafadaar
as Ranga
Sri Raghavendrar
as Raghavendra Swami
Un Kannil Neer Vazhinthal...
as Ravi
No Poster
Mahaguru
as Vijay / Mahaguru
Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Professor Vijay / Robinhood
Chithirame Chithirame
No Poster
Nyayam Meere Cheppali
as Atmaram
John Jani Janardhan
Nallavanukku Nallavan
Gangvaa
as Chameli
Anbulla Rajinikanth
Kai Kodukkum Kai
Thambikku Entha Ooru
as Balu
Naan Mahaan Alla
as Viswanath
Meri Adalat
as Inspector Ashok
Thanga Magan
as Arun
Adutha Varisu
as Kannan
Sivappu Sooriyan
Thai Veedu
Andhaa Kaanoon
as Vijay Kumar Singh
Thudikkum Karangal
Uruvavugal Maralam
as God
Paayum Puli
as Paayum Puli
No Poster
Sashti Viratham
as Mahout
Agni Sakshi
as Self
Enkeyo Ketta Kural
Moondru Mugam
Pudhu Kavithai
as Anand
No Poster
Nandri, Meendum Varuga
Ranga
Thanikattu Raja
Pokkiri Raja
No Poster
Ranuva Veeran
as Raghu
Netrikan
as Chakravarthy/Santhosh
No Poster
Garjanai
Thillu Mullu
as Chandran / Indiran
Kazhugu
as Rajasekar
Thee
as Rajshekhar 'Raja'
Murattu Kaalai
Saranam Ayyappa
Polladhavan
as Manohar
Ellam Un Kairasi
as Raja
No Poster
Naan Potta Saval
Johnny
as Johnny / Vidyasagar
Kaali
as Kaali
Anbukku Naan Adimai
Ram Robert Rahim
as Ram
Natchathiram
Billa
as Billa / Rajappa
Annai Oru Alayam
Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
as Santhanam
Tiger
as Rashid
No Poster
Naan Vazhavaippen
as Michael D' Souza
Dharma Yuddam
as Vijay
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
as Kamaruddin
Thaayillamal Naanillai
as 'Pichuva' Pakkiri
Ninaithale Inikkum
as Deepak
No Poster
Iddaru Asadhyule
as Inspector Bhaskar
Kuppathu Raja
as Jakku / Jayakumar
Priya
as Ganesh
Justice Gopinath
as Ravi
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
No Poster
Paavathin Sambalam
as Kathiravan
Aval Appadithan
as Thyagu
Thai Meethu Sathiyam
Thappu Thalangal
as Devu
Iraivan Kodutha Varam
as Rajnikanth
Mullum Malarum
as Kaali
Vayasu Pilichindi
as Murali
Vanakkathukuriya Kathaliye
as Joe
No Poster
Sadhurangam
Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu
Bairavi
as Mookaiyah
Mangudi Minor
as Kumar
No Poster
Maathu Tappada Maga
as Chandru
Aayiram Jenmangal
No Poster
Annadammula Savaal
No Poster
Kiladi Kittu
as Inspector Srikanth
Shankar Salim Simon
as Simon
No Poster
Galaate Samsaara
as Sundar
No Poster
Aame Katha
No Poster
Tholireyi Gadichindi
No Poster
Aaru Pushpangal
Kumkuma Rakshe
No Poster
Gayathri
as Rajarathnam
Aadu Puli Attam
as Rajini
Sahodarara Savaal
as Somashekar
16 Vayathinile
as Parattai
Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri
as Sampath
No Poster
Ondu Premada Kathe
as Chairman of village panchayat
Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram
as Veeraiyan
Chilakamma Cheppindi
as Ravi
Kavikkuyil
as Murugan
Avargal
as Ramanathan
Baalu Jenu
as Vasu
Moondru Mudichu
as Prasath
Anthuleni Katha
as Murthy
Katha Sangama
as Kondaji
Apoorva Raagangal
as Pandiyan
KHxRK: Reunion
Hum Mein Shahenshah Koun
Ilaiyaraaja
as Self
No Poster