Cine fame alone can’t help in politics: Rajini
In a subtle dig at his friend and actor Kamal Haasan, who is carefully choreographing his launch into politics, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday said one needs “something beyond celebrity status” to succeed in politics. To make his point, Mr Rajinikanth cited the example of late Sivaji Ganesan’s failure in politics despite being a top-notch actor.
Mr Rajinikanth, who is still keeping his cards close to the chest on whether he would take the plunge into politics, used the dais at the opening of late actor Sivaji Ganesan’s memorial on the banks of the Adyar here to talk about politics and Kamal, who was also seated on the dais on Sunday.
“A legend of our times, Sivaji Ganesan has left us a lesson not just in cinema but also in politics. He launched his own political party and lost elections, including from his own seat. This was not an insult to him, but the people of that constituency. So, the message is that fame and clout (earned in cinema) is not enough to succeed in politics. There should be something beyond that,” Rajinikanth said.
“I don’t know what it is. But I think Kamal Haasan would know and even if he knows the secret, he would not tell me. Maybe he would have told me if I had asked him two months back. When I say you (Haasan) are senior to me in cinema, and are like an elder brother and ask him to share that with me, he says come with me and I will tell,” he said.
Rajinikanth was referring to Kamal’s political statement in July asking people to send complaints to ministers about corruption in their departments.
A legend of our times, Sivaji Ganesan has left us a lesson. He launched his party and lost elections, including from his own seat. This was not an insult to him, but the people of that constituency. So, the message is that fame and clout (earned in cinema) is not enough to succeed in politics.
— RAJINIKANTH, Actor