Rajinikanth
Biography
Rajinikanth (born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad; 12 December 1950) is an Indian actor, producer, and screenwriter who works primarily in Tamil cinema. He made his cinematic debut in a supporting antagonistic role in K. Balachander's Tamil drama *Apoorva Raagangal* (1975). Known for his distinctive acting style and dialogue delivery, he has become an established and commercially bankable actor in Indian cinema. After initially portraying villains and anti-heroes, Rajinikanth transitioned to lead roles during the late 1970s and 1980s. His collaborations with director S. P. Muthuraman included *Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri* (1977), *Murattu Kaalai* (1980), and *Nallavanukku Nallavan* (1984). His notable films of the 1990s included Suresh Krisnna's *Annamalai* (1992) and *Baashha* (1995), K. S. Ravikumar's *Muthu* (1995), and *Padayappa* (1999). During the 2000s and 2010s, Rajinikanth appeared in P. Vasu's horror-comedy *Chandramukhi* (2005), Shankar's action film *Sivaji: The Boss* (2007), and the science-fiction films *Enthiran* (2010) and *2.0* (2018). He also starred in Pa. Ranjith's dramas *Kabali* (2016) and *Kaala* (2018), and Karthik Subbaraj's action film *Petta* (2019). He received the Padma Bhushan in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2021. In 2023, Rajinikanth starred in Nelson Dilipkumar's action film *Jailer*. His 2024 releases included an extended cameo as Moideen Bhai in Aishwarya Rajinikanth's *Lal Salaam* and the lead role in T. J. Gnanavel's action-drama *Vettaiyan*. His subsequent films include Lokesh Kanagaraj's action thriller *Coolie* (2025) and Nelson Dilip Kumar's sequel *Jailer 2* (2026). Notable Upcoming Films Ashwath Marimuthu's *Dharman* (2027) and Nelson Dilip Kumar's *RKxKH Re-Union*.
Known For
0Jailer 2
2026
Thambikku Entha Ooru
1984
Jailer
2023
Coolie
2025
Pokkiri Raja
1982
Enthiran
2010
Ra.One
2011
Naan Vazhavaippen
1979
Kuppathu Raja
1979
2.0
2018
Wafadaar
1985
Chandramukhi
2005
Filmography
Jailer 2
as Muthuvel 'Tiger' Pandian · 2026
Thambikku Entha Ooru
as Balu · 1984
Jailer
as Muthuvel 'Tiger' Pandian · 2023
Coolie
as Devaraj 'Deva' · 2025
Pokkiri Raja
· 1982
Enthiran
as Dr. Vaseegaran / Chitti · 2010
Ra.One
as Chitti / Self · 2011
Naan Vazhavaippen
as Michael D' Souza · 1979
Kuppathu Raja
as Jakku / Jayakumar · 1979
2.0
as Dr. Vaseegaran / Chitti / Kutti · 2018
Wafadaar
as Ranga · 1985
Chandramukhi
as Dr. Saravanan / Vettaiyan Raja · 2005
Kabali
as 'Kabali' Kabaliswaran · 2016
Sivaji: The Boss
as Sivaji Arumugam · 2007
Asli Naqli
as Birju Ustad · 1986
Kodai Mazhai
as Self · 1986
Anbukku Naan Adimai
· 1980
Petta
as Petta 'Kaali' Velan · 2019
Ellam Un Kairasi
as Raja · 1980
Darbar
as Aadithya Arunachalam IPS · 2020
Iddaru Asadhyule
as Inspector Bhaskar · 1979
KHxRK: Reunion
Periya Idathu Pillai
as Self · 1990
Thee
as Rajshekhar 'Raja' · 1981
Iraivan Kodutha Varam
as Rajnikanth · 1978
Sashti Viratham
as Mahout · 1983
Kaala
as Karikaalan Vengaiyan 'Kaala' · 2018
Annaatthe
as 'Annaatthe' Kaalaiyaan · 2021
Naan Potta Saval
· 1980
Tholireyi Gadichindi
· 1977
Muthu
as Muthu / Muthu's father · 1995
Padayappa
as Padayappa · 1999
Baba
as Baba / Mahavatar Babaji · 2002
Kiladi Kittu
as Inspector Srikanth · 1978
Thalapathi
as Surya · 1991
Baasha
as Manikkam / Manik Baashha · 1995
Annadammula Savaal
· 1978
Jeevana Poratam
as Ravi · 1986
Chithirame Chithirame
· 1985
Mahaguru
as Vijay / Mahaguru · 1985
Thai Veedu
· 1983
Aame Katha
· 1977
Vettaiyan
as SP V. Athiyan IPS · 2024
Ranuva Veeran
as Raghu · 1981
Galaate Samsaara
as Sundar · 1977
Paavathin Sambalam
as Kathiravan · 1978
Into the Wild with Bear Grylls & Rajinikanth
· 2020
Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram
as Veeraiyan · 1977
Arunachalam
as Arunachalam / Vedhachalam · 1997
Dharman
as Dharman
Bloodstone
as Shyam Sabu · 1988
Lingaa
as 'Lingaa' K. Lingeswaran / Raja Lingeswaran · 2014
Justice Gopinath
as Ravi · 1978
Ondu Premada Kathe
as Chairman of village panchayat · 1977
Baalu Jenu
as Vasu · 1976
Into the Wild with Bear Grylls & Akshay Kumar
· 2020
Mr. Bharath
as Bharat · 1986
Apoorva Raagangal
as Pandiyan · 1975
Hum Mein Shahenshah Koun
Manithan
· 1987
Siva
as Siva (Tiger) · 1989
Aatank Hi Aatank
as Munna · 1995
Veera
as Muthuveerappan · 1994
Panakkaran
as Muthu · 1990
Bhagya Debata
as Singer (Guest appearence) · 1997
Kodi Parakuthu
as Erode Shivagiri / Dada · 1989
Annamalai
as Annamalai · 1992
Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Professor Vijay / Robinhood · 1985
Bulandi
as Ghajraj Thakur · 2000
Endhiran Making of Robot
as Self · 2010
Agni Sakshi
as Self · 1982
Pedarayudu
as Paparayudu · 1995
Nallavanukku Nallavan
· 1984
Aaru Pushpangal
· 1977
Athisaya Piravi
· 1990
Mangudi Minor
as Kumar · 1978
Nyayam Meere Cheppali
as Atmaram · 1985
Hum
as Kumar Malhotra · 1991
Dharmathin Thalaivan
as Balu(lecturer) and Shankar · 1988
Insaaf Kaun Karega
as Vikram Singh · 1987
Gair Kanooni
as Azam Khan · 1989
Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
as Santhanam · 1979
Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu
· 1978
Anthuleni Katha
as Murthy · 1976
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
as Kamaruddin · 1979
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
· 1978
Insaniyat Ke Devta
as Anwar · 1993
Manathil Uruthi Vendum
as Cameo · 1987
Farishtay
as Arjun Ramojirao · 1991
Guru Sishyan
as Raja aka Guru · 1988
Mappillai
as Arumugam · 1989
Cinema Veeran
as Self (voice) · 2017
Murattu Kaalai
· 1980
Lal Salaam
as Moideen Bhai · 2024
Moondru Mudichu
as Prasath · 1976
Naan Mahaan Alla
as Viswanath · 1984
Kochadaiiyaan
as Kochadaiiyaan / Ranadheeran / Senadheeran · 2014
Katha Sangama
as Kondaji · 1976
Andhaa Kaanoon
as Vijay Kumar Singh · 1983
Kazhugu
as Rajasekar · 1981
Dharma Durai
as Dharmadurai · 1991
Oorkavalan
as Kangeyan · 1987
Tamacha
as Vicky · 1988
Geraftaar
as Inspector Hussein (Cameo appearance) · 1985
Johnny
as Johnny / Vidyasagar · 1980
Phool Bane Angaray
as Inspector Ranjeet Singh · 1991
Padikkadavan
as Rajendran · 1985
Aval Appadithan
as Thyagu · 1978
Gangvaa
as Chameli · 1984
Avargal
as Ramanathan · 1977
Valli
as Veeraiyan · 1993
Pandiyan
as Pandiyan · 1992
Viduthalai
as Raja · 1986
Kathanayakudu
as Ashok Kumar · 2008
Annai Oru Alayam
· 1979
Gayathri
as Rajarathnam · 1977
Pudhu Kavithai
as Anand · 1982
Chaalbaaz
as Jaggu · 1989
Kai Kodukkum Kai
· 1984
Naan Adimai Illai
· 1986
Velaikkaran
as Ragupathy · 1987
Sahodarara Savaal
as Somashekar · 1977
Thillu Mullu
as Chandran / Indiran · 1981
16 Vayathinile
as Parattai · 1977
Uttar Dakshin
as Shankar · 1987
Ranga
· 1982
Maaveeran
· 1986
Thanga Magan
as Arun · 1983
Thaayillamal Naanillai
as 'Pichuva' Pakkiri · 1979
Vayasu Pilichindi
as Murali · 1978
Yaar?
· 1985
Raja Chinna Roja
as Raja · 1989
Dreams of Hind and Camilia
as (archive footage) · 1988
Polladhavan
as Manohar · 1980
Enkeyo Ketta Kural
· 1982
Bhrashtachar
as Abdul Sattar · 1989
Nandri, Meendum Varuga
· 1982
Anbulla Rajinikanth
· 1984
Paayum Puli
as Paayum Puli · 1983
Aayiram Jenmangal
· 1978
Khoon Ka Karz
as Kishan · 1991
Shanti Kranti
as Inspector Subhash (Tamil & Hindi Version) · 1991
Dharma Yuddam
as Vijay · 1979
Billa
as Billa / Rajappa · 1980
Un Kannil Neer Vazhinthal...
as Ravi · 1985
Yejaman
as Kanthavelu Vaanavarayan · 1993
Kuselan
as Ashok Kumar · 2008
Chilakamma Cheppindi
as Ravi · 1977
Daku Hasina
· 1987
Kumkuma Rakshe
· 1977
Adutha Varisu
as Kannan · 1983
Dosti Dhushmani
as Inspector Ranjith · 1986
Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri
as Sampath · 1977
Priya
as Ganesh · 1978
Tyagi
as Shankar G. "Dadhu" Dayal · 1992
Bewafai
as Ranveer · 1985
Mannan
as Krishnan · 1992
Uruvavugal Maralam
as God · 1983
Thai Meethu Sathiyam
· 1978
Saranam Ayyappa
· 1980
Rajathi Raja
as Raja/Chinnarasu · 1989
Netrikan
as Chakravarthy/Santhosh · 1981
Mullum Malarum
as Kaali · 1978
Bhagwaan Dada
as Bhagwaan Dada · 1986
Moondru Mugam
· 1982
Bairavi
as Mookaiyah · 1978
Vanakkathukuriya Kathaliye
as Joe · 1978
Aadu Puli Attam
as Rajini · 1977
Garjanai
· 1981
Uzhaippali
as Tamilarasan/Tamilazhagan · 1993
Ilaiyaraaja
as Self
Kaali
as Kaali · 1980
Thappu Thalangal
as Devu · 1978
John Jani Janardhan
· 1984
Sivappu Sooriyan
· 1983
Thanikattu Raja
· 1982
Natchathiram
· 1980
Kavikkuyil
as Murugan · 1977
Tiger
as Rashid · 1979
Meri Adalat
as Inspector Ashok · 1984
Ram Robert Rahim
as Ram · 1980
Thudikkum Karangal
· 1983
Untitled Rajnikanth - Nithilan Saminathan Film
Shankar Salim Simon
as Simon · 1978
Sri Raghavendrar
as Raghavendra Swami · 1985
Maathu Tappada Maga
as Chandru · 1978
Ninaithale Inikkum
as Deepak · 1979
Sadhurangam
· 1978
Jailer 2- Super Show
as Self · 2026
Jailer 2 Super Show