Superstar joins politics

INDIAN superstar Rajinikanth (above) last Thursday (3) became the latest actor to enter politics, vowing to bring in “corruption-free” government to his home state.

The action hero, one of Asia’s bestpaid actors, said on Twitter that with “huge support from people” he would launch a political party in January that is expected to contest elections scheduled in Tamil Nadu state next year.

The 69-year-old former bus conductor said the public wanted “honest, transparent, corruptionfree, caste-less, secular and spiritual politics” in the state. “Wonderful and amazing things will happen!” he added without stating explicitly he would stand himself.

The actor enjoys a cult-like following across India where is called “The Superstar” or “Thalaivar” (leader).

Rajnikanth, who worked on buses in Bangalore before moving into acting in 1973, proved his political muscle in 1996 when he called on fans to oppose the Tamil Nadu government, which was then voted out of power.

He launched his own movement, Rajini Makkal Mandram in 2017.