Responding to the numerous requests from a cohort of directors, fellow actors and fans urging him to enter politics, Superstar Rajinikanth laid all their hopes to rest, saying that he has no plans to float a party or enter politics for a “long long time”.
Appearing at a celebration arranged in honour of his birthday at YMCA Royapettah on Thursday, the actor said, “I will not be an effective leader even if I enter politics. You see, as a leader I may want to do a lot of good for the people, but a few party functionaries may use my name and power to their benefit and do wrong.”
Looking back to the kidney illness that nearly claimed his life, Rajinikanth revealed that it was a “dark and despairing” time for him and his family. “I have never told anyone this, but doctors in Singapore treated me with steroids for the lump in my kidneys. They told me that it would preserve my kidneys but wreck every other part of my body,” he recalled. “My family was told that it would be a miracle if I survived. For two months, I could not stand or walk and had no strength. But God’s blessings and your prayers brought me back to life,” he added.
His only regret was that his illness stalled the movie Rana, the work for which was about to begin then. “I had planned to play a terrible villain’s role in Rana - one that combined the evil of Chitti (Endhiran), Vettaiyan (Chandramukhi) and Motta Boss (Sivaji). But, it was not to be,” he said.
This was the first time the actor attended a birthday celebration organised by his fans after a gala fete held 16 years ago, when three youth died while leaving the venue. “That upset me so much that I promised myself that no programme in my name would ever risk human lives again. But this year is special, thanks to your love,” he added to the thunderous applause.