Shivaji Rao Gaikwad[a] (born 12 December 1950), known professionally as
Rajinikanth (
rə-JIN-ih-KAHNTH),
[b] is an Indian actor, screen writer, and producer who works mainly in
Tamil cinema.
[5] In a career spanning over five decades, he has done 169 films that includes films in
Tamil,
Hindi,
Telugu,
Kannada,
Bengali, and
Malayalam. He is widely regarded to be one of the most successful and popular actors in the history of
Indian cinema.
[6][7] Known for his uniquely styled lines and idiosyncrasies in films, he has a huge fan base internationally and has a
cult following. The
Government of India honoured him with
Padma Bhushan in 2000,
Padma Vibhushan in 2016, India's third and second highest
civilian honours, and highest award in the field of cinema
Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019 for his contributions to Indian cinema
