Indian screen idol Rajinikanth turns 61

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is acting opposite Rajinikanth as heroine for the first time. (SOURCE:NDTV)
He also appeared in the cinemas of other nations, including American cinema. He was paid Rs 26 crores for Sivaji: The Boss, making him the highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan. (SOURCE:NDTV)
In 1995 Rajinikanth announced that he is willing to support the Congress party after meeting Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. In 1996, when the Congress Party decided to align with AIADMK, Rajinikanth supported DMK-TMC alliance. (SOURCE:NDTV)
The film was titled Sivaji: The Boss and released on 15 June 2007 went on to become ranked among other major releases of the year. (SOURCE:NDTV)
These films were the turning points in Rajinikanth's career; he changed from an actor who merely enthralled the audiences to one who could also evoke emotions. (SOURCE:NDTV)
The success of Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri prompted Muthuraman to make a mushy melodrama with Rajinikanth as a hero sacrificing everything for his siblings in Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979). (SOURCE:NDTV)
Apart from his film career, he is a philanthropist and also serves as an influence in the politics of Tamil Nadu. (SOURCE:NDTV)
He received India's third highest honour, the Padma Bhushan, for his contribution to Indian cinema. (SOURCE:NDTV)
It was during this time that he nurtured his acting interests by performing in various stage plays. (SOURCE:NDTV)
Rajinikanth struggled a lot during his early age because of his family's low income. Although his mother-tongue is Marathi he has not yet acted in any Marathi films. (SOURCE:NDTV)
Rajinikanth, fondly called Thalaivar (Leader) by his fans, was born on December 12, 1950 to a Marathi family in Bangalore. (SOURCE:NDTV)
Released on Oct 1, 2010, Endhiran was Rajinikanth's latest film which was a huge hit at the box office. He romanced Aishwarya Rai in the movie. (SOURCE:NDTV)