Acting
Rajinikanth
Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Bengali cinema · 187 credits
Born
12 December 1950 (age 75)
Birthplace
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Also known as Rajni Kanth · Shivaji Rao Gaikwad · Thalaivar · Super Star
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
Filmography
Ilaiyaraaja
as Self
Dharman
as Dharman
Jailer 2
as Muthuvel 'Tiger' Pandian
Coolie
as Devaraj 'Deva'
Vettaiyan
as SP V. Athiyan IPS
Lal Salaam
as Moideen Bhai
Jailer
as Muthuvel 'Tiger' Pandian, Playback Singer
Annaatthe
as 'Annaatthe' Kaalaiyaan, Playback Singer
Darbar
as Aadithya Arunachalam IPS
Petta
as Petta 'Kaali' Velan
2.0
as Dr. Vaseegaran / Chitti / Kutti
Kaala
as Karikaalan Vengaiyan 'Kaala'
Cinema Veeran
as Self (voice)
Kabali
as 'Kabali' Kabaliswaran, Playback Singer
Kochadaiiyaan
as Kochadaiiyaan / Ranadheeran / Senadheeran, Playback Singer
Lingaa
as 'Lingaa' K. Lingeswaran / Raja Lingeswaran
Ra.One
as Chitti / Self
Enthiran
as Dr. Vaseegaran / Chitti
Kuselan
as Ashok Kumar
Kathanayakudu
as Ashok Kumar
Sivaji: The Boss
as Sivaji Arumugam
Chandramukhi
as Dr. Saravanan / Vettaiyan Raja
Baba
as Baba / Mahavatar Babaji, Producer, Screenplay, Story, Playback Singer
Bulandi
as Ghajraj Thakur
Padayappa
as Padayappa, Story Developer
Arunachalam
as Arunachalam / Vedhachalam
Bhagya Debata
as Singer (Guest appearence)
Muthu
as Muthu / Muthu's father
Baasha
as Manikkam / Manik Baashha
Pedarayudu
as Paparayudu
Aatank Hi Aatank
as Munna
Veera
as Muthuveerappan
Valli
as Veeraiyan, Writer, Producer
Yejaman
as Kanthavelu Vaanavarayan
Uzhaippali
as Tamilarasan/Tamilazhagan
Mannan
as Krishnan, Playback Singer
Annamalai
as Annamalai
Pandiyan
as Pandiyan
Tyagi
as Shankar G. "Dadhu" Dayal
Thalapathi
as Surya
Farishtay
as Arjun Ramojirao
Khoon Ka Karz
as Kishan
Dharma Durai
as Dharmadurai
Phool Bane Angaray
as Inspector Ranjeet Singh
Hum
as Kumar Malhotra
Shanti Kranti
as Inspector Subhash (Tamil & Hindi Version)
Panakkaran
as Muthu
Kodi Parakuthu
as Erode Shivagiri / Dada
Chaalbaaz
as Jaggu
Rajathi Raja
as Raja/Chinnarasu
Gair Kanooni
as Azam Khan
Mappillai
as Arumugam
Bhrashtachar
as Abdul Sattar
Siva
as Siva (Tiger)
Dharmathin Thalaivan
as Balu(lecturer) and Shankar
Guru Sishyan
as Raja aka Guru
Tamacha
as Vicky
Velaikkaran
as Ragupathy
ஊர்க்காவலன்
1987
Oorkavalan
as Kangeyan
Uttar Dakshin
as Shankar
Insaaf Kaun Karega
as Vikram Singh
Mr. Bharath
as Bharat
Viduthalai
as Raja
Bhagwaan Dada
as Bhagwaan Dada
Kodai Mazhai
as Self
Dosti Dhushmani
as Inspector Ranjith
Asli Naqli
as Birju Ustad
Sri Raghavendrar
as Raghavendra Swami
Padikkadavan
as Rajendran
Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Professor Vijay / Robinhood
Yaar?
Actor
महागुरु
1985
Mahaguru
as Vijay / Mahaguru
Wafadaar
as Ranga
Bewafai
as Ranveer
Geraftaar
as Inspector Hussein (Cameo appearance)
Kai Kodukkum Kai
as Kaalimuthu
Gangvaa
as Chameli
Naan Mahaan Alla
as Viswanath
Meri Adalat
as Inspector Ashok
Thanga Magan
as Arun
Adutha Varisu
as Kannan
Paayum Puli
as Paayum Puli
Andhaa Kaanoon
as Vijay Kumar Singh
Pudhu Kavithai
as Anand
Ranga
Actor
Agni Sakshi
as Self
Netrikan
as Chakravarthy/Santhosh
Kazhugu
as Rajasekar
Thillu Mullu
as Chandran / Indiran
Thee
as Rajshekhar 'Raja'
Kaali
as Kaali
Billa
as Billa / Rajappa
Polladhavan
as Manohar
Johnny
as Johnny / Vidyasagar
Dharma Yuddam
as Vijay
Kuppathu Raja
as Jakku / Jayakumar
Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
as Santhanam
Thaayillamal Naanillai
as 'Pichuva' Pakkiri
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
as Kamaruddin
நான் வாழவைப்பேன்
1979
Naan Vazhavaippen
as Michael D' Souza
Ninaithale Inikkum
as Deepak
ఇద్దరూ అసాధ్యులే
1979
Iddaru Asadhyule
as Inspector Bhaskar
Tiger
as Rashid
Iraivan Kodutha Varam
as Rajnikanth
Mangudi Minor
as Kumar
Aval Appadithan
as Thyagu
Bairavi
as Mookaiyah
Mullum Malarum
as Kaali
Priya
as Ganesh
ಕಿಲಾಡಿ ಕಿಟ್ಟು
1978
Kiladi Kittu
as Inspector Srikanth
Vayasu Pilichindi
as Murali
Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram
as Veeraiyan
Kavikkuyil
as Murugan
16 Vayathinile
as Parattai
காயத்ரி
1977
Gayathri
as Rajarathnam
Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri
as Sampath
Aadu Puli Attam
as Rajini
Avargal
as Ramanathan
ಒಂದು ಪ್ರೇಮದ ಕಥೆ
1977
Ondu Premada Kathe
as Chairman of village panchayat
Sahodarara Savaal
as Somashekar
Moondru Mudichu
as Prasath
Anthuleni Katha
as Murthy
Katha Sangama
as Kondaji
Baalu Jenu
as Vasu
Apoorva Raagangal
as Pandiyan