Rajinikant Denies Being Jealous of Vijay
He clarifies on the ugly rumours doing the rounds
Convening an urgent press conference at his Poes Garden residence, superstar Rajinikanth took on rumour mongers on Sunday to deny that he was jealous of Vijay becoming the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. He also clarified about his long friendship with M.K. Stalin that had come up in a wave of criticism after he had visited the former CM soon after his poll defeat.
“If I don’t give an answer or clarify, it might be accepted as the truth,” Rajinikanth reasoned.
Explaining why he met DMK chief MK Stalin after his party’s defeat in the elections, Rajinikanth said, “Stalin sir has been my friend for 38 to 40 years. Our friendship is beyond politics. In a democracy, victory and defeat are common. However, Stalin losing in Kolathur made me feel a bit upset. That is why, as a friend, out of friendship, I went to see him.”
Rajini also strongly denied reports that he had played a role in rumours of behind the scenes moves to unite the DMK and AIADMK in a regime with an aim to stop Vijay from becoming the CM. “Rajinikanth is not such a cheap or substandard person to talk like that,” he said.
Responding to criticism that he had not congratulated Vijay after his landslide victory and was therefore jealous of him, he said, “I am not in politics. When I am not in politics, why should I be jealous of him? Perhaps if Kamal Haasan had become the Chief Minister, I don’t know if I would have felt jealous or not (laughs).”
He added, “There is a generation gap between me and Vijay... almost a 25-year difference. I have been watching him since he was young. Why would I be jealous of him becoming the CM? And that too at such a young age, at 52 years. This is a greater achievement than what MGR and NTR achieved. Opposing the completely central BJP, which is such a powerful entity, and opposing two major parties here, he has won single-handedly. And that too, coming from our cinema industry. It is a mix of surprise and happiness. Just the ‘Wow’ factor.”
On meeting CM Vijay, he said, “I don’t like to just go and see him again just for the sake of formality.”
Asked whether he could have won had he started a party in 2001, he replied, “100% I would have won. There is no doubt about it.”