Robotmania peaked and vaulted Rajinikanth to a new high as 'Robot', the Shankar helmed flick co starring
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan raked in upwards of Rs.300 crore at the cine stakes. Never mind the success and hype, Rajinikanth remains as unaffected as ever, humble and simple.
ALI PETER JOHN quizzes the South icon…
The last time he was in Bombay (it was Bombay,then, not Mumbai) was eight years ago. He was doing one of his last films in Hindi which was left incomplete, a film called 'Takkar Pe Takkar' with
Shatrughan Sinha, who he once considered his "Guru".
He loved the city those days. It was his "escape route" when ever he wanted a break from the hat and the dust of the politicians and their politics. He felt very comfortable in Bombay because no one recognised him as the great star he is in the south. He walked into any departmental store or market or even in some small bars in any place in the city, even Dharavi and was very happy when no one even had a second look at him.
He came back to Bombay recently for the music release of 'Robot'. He was dressed in his usual jeans, a plain shirt and ordinary 'chappals' for the grand function at which men like
Amitabh Bachchan, Danny and even the directors, Shankar and the producers were all dressed up in their best suits. He was scared of the "galaata" (noise) made by the hundreds of men and women from the media and managed to escape from all the questions they were dying to ask him.
I asked him what he thought about the prospects of 'Robot' and he said, "God only can answer that question. Wait for the release and you will find all the answers". The film is one of the biggest hits in the history of Indian cinema and the man behind the success is much more humble than he was when I managed to talk to him on the phone.
Excerpts from a speedy chat….
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What is your reaction to the unbelievable success of 'Robot'?
What is there to react? I only do my best and leave everything to God and the people who are my only source of strength. If the people like my film it is very good but if they don't, I have absolutely no complaints, because I am what they have made me. Their decision is the only thing that matters to me, nothing else.
What do you think are the reasons behind the film being such a huge success?
I am not the right person to answer your question, you must ask the people who are packing the theatres to see the film and are seeing it again and again. They have never seen anything like what the film shows and they have never seen me in the kind of character I have played. A great part of the success goes to my director Shankar who is one of the greatest geniuses to have come to not only the South but to the entire industry in India.
What have you heard about the success of the film in places like Mumbai, New York, and Japan amongst other countries?
Where do I have the time to think about things like success and other material things? I have gone beyond all this petty matters. Who knows this may be my last film. I have worked enough during all my 63 years.
What about Aishwarya Rai, your co star in 'Robot'?
I am very grateful to this most beautiful woman in the world for having agreed to play my leading lady. Where is the comparison between a woman who looks like an angel and a dark, ugly, and bald man like me? She was really great in the film and hundred percent one of the main reasons why the film is being loved by the people so much. I am and will always be thankful to her for working with me. By the way, my daughter's name is also Aishwarya.
Where does Rajinikanth stand as a politician today?Rajnikanth the politician died more than 10 years ago, because he could not take the disease of politics for a long time. No more politics for
Rajnikant.
Where does Rajinikanth the actor go after a success like 'Robot'?
I don't know any thing. All I know is that I am taking a very long break and retiring to a place which even my family doesn't know.
