Bollywood’s ‘Superstar’ to launch own political party
A BOLLYWOOD actor known as “The Superstar” is entering politics in his southern Indian state with a plan to launch a party.
Rajinikanth, 67, yesterday told his cheering supporters that his objective is to change the system and bring good governance to Tamil Nadu.
He called for political change and appealed to his fans to bring all sections of society into the fold. “I do not want cadres. I want watchdogs,” New Delhi Television quoted Rajinikanth as saying.
Rajinikanth, whose real name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, is one of India’s most popular stars and many of his 175plus films have broken box-office records, mostly in the Tamil and Telugu languages. Referred to simply as “The Superstar” in his native state, Rajinikanth was a bus conductor in the city of Bangalore before heading to Chennai in 1973 to pursue an acting career.
His political prospects appear bright owing to a political vacuum created by the death of Jayaram Jayalalithaa – also a former film star – and the near-retirement of 93-year-old Muthuvel Karunanidhi, the leader of the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party.
♦ India’s censors have cleared a controversial Bollywood film that looks into the relationship of a Hindu queen and a Muslim ruler, after suggesting some modifications. Padmavati, which was due to be released on Dec 1, was postponed after a row over its historical content that sparked nationwide protests by Hindu and caste groups.
The film is now to be called Padmavat, to reflect that its source material was an epic poem of the same name and not from actual historical events.