Dadasaheb Phalke and Padma Bhushan-awarded South Indian Star Rajinikanth is the most successful actor in the Indian film industry. The original name of this man from Karnataka was Shivaji Rao Gaekwad who got his acting chops through Kannada mythological plays. And it was the time when he caught the attention of Tamil film director K Balachander.  Then with the 1975 Tamil film Apoorva Ragangal directed by Balachander, Rajinikanth's film career began. And it was this Balachander who gave Rajinikanth his stage name ‘Rajinikanth’. Almost all of Rajinikanth's films have an impeccable style of punchlines.  Let's check out the most popular movies of this veteran actor on his 72nd birthday. Top 5 Most Memorable Films of South Indian Star Rajinikanth Billa (1980) This R Krishnamurthy-directed action-thriller is a remake of the 1978 Hindi film Don starring Amitabh Bachchan. After this movie, Rajinikanth became the Tamil version of Bachchan in the Kollywood industry. He manages to master Bachchan's angry young man style quite well. However, Rajinikanth himself took Bachchan as his inspiration. Rajinikanth started acting in dual roles for the first time through this cinema. Read More: 10 Best South Indian Movies Releasing in December 2022 This blockbuster movie was a major turning point in his acting career. Since the release of the film, a new Rajinikanth has emerged in the eyes of critics. Billa’s highest-grossing figure in 1980 established Rajinikanth as the top star of southern cinema. This movie started the gangster hero trend in Tamil cinema. In old movies, the audience was usually shown the hero's backstory where the hero was a victim of social problems and committed crimes. Billa, on the contrary, is a complete exception to that, where the hero enjoys committing crimes. And Rajinikanth played the character flawlessly. Chandramukhi (2005) This commercially successful horror comedy film was written and directed by P Vasu. The 1993 Malayalam movie Manchitrathajhu was remade by Vasu himself in Kannada in 2004 as Aptamitra. And this Chandramukhi is the Tamil version of that Aptamitra. Rajinikanth's co-artists here were Jyothika and Nayanthara. Read More: Jaya Ahsan’s Bollywood debut confirmed as photos emerge with Pankaj Tripathi, other co-actors Over 25 Toyota Qualis and 30 stunt artists were used in Rajinikanth's fight sequences in the film. It ran in theaters for 890 consecutive days, making the movie the longest-running South Indian film. The film was released in several languages, including German and Turkish. However, the entire credit behind this was due to Rajinikanth's stardom. Rajinikanth won a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for his portrayal of Vettaiyan Raja. The film won four more awards at the Tamil Nadu State Film Festival. The movie also showcased two Filmfare Awards and four Film Fans Association Awards. The film is one of the limited numbers of South Indian films to have grossed over Rs 100 crore at the worldwide box office.

Versatile thespian Rajinikanth will be conferred this year's prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian cinema. This was announced by the Indian government on Thursday. “Happy to announce Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2020 to one of the greatest actors in history of Indian cinema Rajnikant ji. His contribution as actor, producer and screenwriter has been iconic,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar tweeted. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema. The recipient is honoured for their "outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema" and is selected by a committee consisting of eminent personalities from the Indian film industry. Soon after the announcement by the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to Twitter to congratulate the 70-year-old southern Indian superstar. Also read: Indian superstar Rajinikanth abandons political ambitions "Hearty congratulations to Shri @rajinikanth on being conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Over the past many years, the versatile actor has been enthralling people by portraying a vast array of roles depicting myriad hues of human experience and emotions," the Vice President wrote. Modi also lauded the veteran actor's contributions to Indian cinema. "Popular across generations, a body of work few can boast of, diverse roles and an endearing personality...that’s Shri @rajinikanth Ji for you. It is a matter of immense joy that Thalaiva has been conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Congratulations to him." On his part, the Indian Home Minister tweeted: "Rajnikanth ji is a true legend, a versatile actor, whose acting and cinematic talent has millions of fans across the world. I join our countrymen in congratulating Shri @rajinikanth  Ji for being conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award." Later in the day, Rajinikanth himself took to Twitter to share a long note in his mother tongue, Tamil. “I wholeheartedly thank the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conferring me Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in the Indian Film Industry," he wrote. Also read: Indian film superstar Rajinikanth turns 70 "I thank my bus driver and friend Raj Bahadur who discovered my acting talent and encouraged me, my brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad who sacrificed a lot while we were struggling in poverty to make me an actor, my guru K Balachander for creating ‘the Rajinikanth," the actor added. Born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, Rajinikanth made his debut in 1975 Tamil drama Apoorva Raagangal. Subsequently, he made his Bollywood debut. He achieved stardom in the 1990s. The regional film Baashha, released in 1995, in which Rajinikanth played a crime boss, earned him a 'god-like' status in Tamil Nadu. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema, whose popularity has been attributed to his uniquely styled dialogues in films. He has won many awards, including four Tamil Nadu State Film Best Actor Awards. He is the only actor to be featured in a school board syllabus, in a lesson' From Bus Conductor to Superstar. The Indian government earlier honored the philanthropist with two civilian awards -- the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. Read Indian film superstar Rajinikanth to float political party

In a dramatic U-turn that has shocked millions of his fans, south Indian superstar Rajinikanth on Tuesday decided not to join active politics.

South Indian superstar Rajinikanth on Saturday celebrated his 70th birthday in style in the city of Chennai, barely three weeks ahead of the mega launch of his political party to contest in the upcoming elections in his home state of Tamil Nadu.

Putting years of speculation to rest, south Indian superstar Rajinikanth on Thursday announced that he will launch a political party in January next year to contest in the upcoming assembly elections in his home state of Tamil Nadu.