Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, popularly known as Rajinikanth, has completed 50 years in the Tamil film industry, as his first film Apoorva Raagangal was released in theatres on 15 August 1975. Apoorva Raagangal starred Kamal Haasan, Sundarrajan, Srividya, and Jayasudha in the lead roles, while Rajinikanth played the supporting character Pandiyan.
He was later cast as the main lead in the Tamil film Bairavi, directed by M. Bhaskar, which was his 27th film. Since then, there has been no looking back for him. Apart from working in Tamil films, he has also acted in other Indian film industries such as Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Celebrated for his charismatic style and powerful dialogues, he continues to mesmerize fans around the world. He has won numerous film awards, including one National Film Award, seven Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, a Nandi Award, one Filmfare Award, and two Maharashtra State Film Awards.
His 171st film, Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, was released on 14 August 2025, and he is currently busy with his 172nd film, titled Jailer 2, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. He has collaborated with music director Anirudh Ravichander in four films — Petta, Darbar, Jailer, and Vettaiyan.
Even at the age of 74, Rajinikanth continues to showcase his star power, as his latest action thriller Coolie set another record by collecting ₹151 crore worldwide gross, the highest ever for a Tamil film on its opening day.
As of August 2025, Rajinikanth dominates the list of highest-grossing Tamil films of all time, with 2.0 leading the chart and Jailer in the second position. He has four films within the top 10 highest-grossing Tamil films of all time: 2.0, Jailer, Enthiran, and Kabali.
Superstar Rajinikanth has collaborated with Superstar Amitabh Bachchan in 4 films: Andhaa Kaanoon (1983), Geraftaar (1985), Hum (1991), and Vettaiyan (2024).
He has collaborated with director Nelson Dilipkumar in two films (Jailer and Jailer 2), once with director Siva (Annaatthe), once with Lokesh Kanagaraj (Coolie), once with A.R. Murugadoss (Darbar), once with Karthik Subbaraj (Petta), three times with S. Shankar (Sivaji: The Boss, Enthiran, and 2.0), twice with Pa. Ranjith (Kabali and Kaala), and once with Mani Ratnam (Thalapathi).
Rajinikanth has collaborated once each with Sonakshi Sinha (Lingaa), Deepika Padukone (Kochadaiiyaan), and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Enthiran). He has also worked once with Manisha Koirala (Baba), once with Madhuri Dixit (Uttar Dakshin), and once with Shriya Saran (Sivaji: The Boss).
Q: Who is Shivaji Rao Gaikwad better known as?
A: Shivaji Rao Gaikwad is popularly known as Rajinikanth.
Q: When did Rajinikanth make his debut in the Tamil film
industry?
A: He made his debut with Apoorva Raagangal, released on 15
August 1975.
Q: Who were the lead actors in Apoorva Raagangal, and what
role did Rajinikanth play?
A: The film starred Kamal Haasan, Sundarrajan, Srividya, and
Jayasudha in the lead roles, while Rajinikanth played the supporting character
Pandiyan.
Q: In which film did Rajinikanth first play the main lead?
A: He first played the main lead in Bairavi, directed by M.
Bhaskar, which was his 27th film.
Q: Apart from Tamil films, in which other industries has
Rajinikanth acted?
A: He has also acted in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and
Malayalam films.
Q: What is Rajinikanth most celebrated for as an actor?
A: He is celebrated for his charismatic style and powerful
dialogues.
Q: How many major awards has Rajinikanth won?
A: He has won one National Film Award, seven Tamil Nadu
State Film Awards, a Nandi Award, one Filmfare Award, and two Maharashtra State
Film Awards.
Q: What is Rajinikanth’s 171st film, and when was it
released?
A: His 171st film is Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj,
released on 14 August 2025.
Q: Which film is Rajinikanth currently working on?
A: He is currently working on Jailer 2, directed by Nelson
Dilipkumar.
Q: How many times has Rajinikanth collaborated with music
director Anirudh Ravichander?
A: He has collaborated with Anirudh in four films — Petta, Darbar,
Jailer, and Vettaiyan.
Q: What record did Rajinikanth’s latest film Coolie set?
A: Coolie collected ₹151 crore worldwide gross on its
opening day, the highest ever for a Tamil film.
Q: Which Rajinikanth film tops the list of highest-grossing
Tamil films of all time?
A: 2.0 leads the chart, followed by Jailer.
Q: How many Rajinikanth films are in the top 10
highest-grossing Tamil films of all time?
A: Four films — 2.0, Jailer, Enthiran, and Kabali.
Q: How many times has Superstar Rajinikanth collaborated with Superstar Amitabh Bachchan?
A: Four times — Andhaa Kaanoon (1983), Geraftaar (1985), Hum (1991), and Vettaiyan (2024).
Rajinikanth’s Collaborations with Directors
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with S.
Shankar?
A: Three times — Sivaji: The Boss, Enthiran, and 2.0.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Pa.
Ranjith?
A: Twice — Kabali and Kaala.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Nelson
Dilipkumar?
A: Twice — Jailer and Jailer 2.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Siva?
A: Once — Annaatthe.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Lokesh
Kanagaraj?
A: Once — Coolie.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with A.R.
Murugadoss?
A: Once — Darbar.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Karthik
Subbaraj?
A: Once — Petta.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Mani
Ratnam?
A: Once — Thalapathi.
Rajinikanth’s Collaborations with Actresses
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Deepika
Padukone?
A: Once — Kochadaiiyaan.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Aishwarya
Rai Bachchan?
A: Once — Enthiran.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Sonakshi
Sinha?
A: Once — Lingaa.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Manisha
Koirala?
A: Once — Baba.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Madhuri
Dixit?
A: Once — Uttar Dakshin.
Q: How many times did Rajinikanth collaborate with Shriya
Saran?
A: Once — Sivaji: The Boss.
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