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Rajinikanth Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth12 December 1950

Age74 Years

BirthplaceBengaluru, Mysore State (now Karnataka), India

ProfessionActor, Producer, Screenplay Writer, Philanthropist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseLatha

FamilyDaughters - Aishwarya (born 1982), Soundarya (born 1984)

Net worthRs. 400 Crore (as of 2024)

Rajinikanth Biography

Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, known worldwide as Rajinikanth, rose from modest beginnings in Bengaluru to become a towering figure of Indian cinema. Over five-plus

Early life and background
Shivaji Rao Gaekwad was born on 12 December 1950 in Bengaluru, then part of Mysore State (now Karnataka). He grew up in a large family; his father worked as a police constable and his mother was a homemaker. Rajinikanth lost his mother at a young age and was raised mainly by his father and elder brothers.

Before entering films he held a variety of jobs in Bengaluru and Chennai, including work as a carpenter, coolie and as a bus conductor for the Bangalore Transport Service. A friend encouraged him to study acting and he enrolled at the Madras Film Institute (M.G.R. Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu), where a stage performance brought him to the attention of director K. Balachander.

Career
Rajinikanth made his screen debut in the Tamil film Apoorva Raagangal (1975) directed by K. Balachander. Early in his career he became known for strong negative and character roles; as his popularity grew he transitioned into leading roles in multiple languages. He appeared in Kannada, Telugu and Hindi productions, with Kannada debut Katha Sangama (1976), Telugu debut Anthuleni Katha (1976) and a Bollywood appearance in Andha Kanoon (1983).

His commercial breakthrough came with Billa (1980), a Tamil remake of Don, after which he established himself as a bankable star. Over the decades he explored a wide range of genres, from devotional roles such as the saint Raghavendra Swami in Sri Raghavendra (1985) to the science-fiction spectacle Enthiran (Robot). His filmography includes experiments in technology and form: Raaja Chinna Roja (1989) was a pioneering Tamil film for its animation work, and he has been part of productions shot in black-and-white, color, animation and 3D.

Rajinikanth has also appeared in international work, including the Indian-American action-adventure Bloodstone (1988), and has made notable guest appearances such as in Ra.One (2011). He has been recognised for commanding top fees; in 2007 he became one of the highest-paid Asian actors, and in 2023 he reportedly received a substantial payment for his leading role in Jailer, which further underlined his commercial standing.

Public profile
Rajinikanth is widely admired for a modest, punctual public persona. Fans celebrate his birthday on 12 December as World Style Day or International Style Day, reflecting the cultural following he enjoys across South India. He is often described as humble and down-to-earth, traits frequently noted in public commentary about him.

His off-screen interests include travelling, reading and gardening. He follows Hinduism and has expressed spiritual leanings; his spiritual guru was Swami Satchidananda. He maintains a routine that includes visiting the Himalayas after each film since the mid-1990s, and he reportedly observes a policy of not meeting people after 9 pm.

Family and personal life
Rajinikanth met his wife Latha in a social setting while she led a group of college girls attending an interview; they married on 26 February 1981. The couple have two daughters: Aishwarya (born 1982) and Soundarya (born 1984). He owns the Raghavendra Mandapam marriage hall in Chennai.

Awards and honours
Over his career Rajinikanth has received numerous national honours. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. He received the Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year in 2014. In 2021 the Government of India announced the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for him; the award was formally presented on 25 October 2021, and he dedicated it to his mentor K. Balachander, his brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad and his friend Raj Bahadur.

Latest updates
In 2023 he again featured among the top-paid actors in India, with reports noting a major payout related to the film Jailer. In March 2024, media reports recorded criticism of his behaviour at a high-profile event in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Earlier notable public actions include fasting in 2002 over the Kaveri water issue and participating in a 2008 fast calling for rights for Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Style and legacy
Rajinikanth is known for distinctive screen mannerisms and a charismatic style that helped cultivate a near-mythic public image in South India. He has collaborated repeatedly with certain co-actors and filmmakers across decades, and his impact on popular culture in the region is reflected in fan rituals, commemorations and the enduring popularity of many of his films.
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Recent Work

Jailer

Leading role; reports in 2023 noted a substantial payment for his involvement in the project.

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut in Tamil cinema with Apoorva Raagangal (1975)
  2. Breakthrough commercial success with Billa (1980)
  3. Played Raghavendra Swami in Sri Raghavendra (1985)
  4. Starred in pioneering animated-sequence film Raaja Chinna Roja (1989)
  5. Received Dadasaheb Phalke Award (presented 25 October 2021)
  6. Awarded Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2016)
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Net Worth

Rs. 400 Crore (as of 2024)

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Rajinikanth born?

12 December 1950

What is Rajinikanth known for?

Actor, Producer, Screenplay Writer, Philanthropist

What is Rajinikanth’s marital status?

Married

Who is Rajinikanth married to?

Latha

What is Rajinikanth’s net worth?

Rs. 400 Crore (as of 2024)