With the year coming to an end, people expected Rajinikanth would speak about his political entry at the recently held audio launch of his much anticipated film Petta (Jan 15 release) in Karthik Subbaraj’s direction. Much to everyone’s disappointment, the Superstar spoke in generalities without making any official announcement on venturing into politics.
The actor requested his fans not to come to his Poes Garden residence on his birthday on December 12 as they would be disappointed since he will not be in the city that day. “I appeal to my fans to take it easy and I apologise if it is upsetting for anyone,” the 2.O star said.
The 68-year-old actor expressed his solidarity with the victims of Cyclone Gaja. “The cyclone has caused a massive destruction and is not fair to expect that the government to set right things single-handedly. All of us should join hands and do our bit to help the victims. I and my Makkal Mandram have chipped in our best.”
Rajiniknath revealed that Karthik Subbaraj narrated the story of Petta to him two years back. “Recently, when Sun TV approached me, I called Karthik and he came up with the same story with a renewed appeal. The film happens in hill stations, something new to filmgoers. KS took me to ’80s and ’90s. If we like a kid a lot, we will enjoy whatever it does. And I am like that kid. Filmmakers, makeup artistes and cameramen dress me up and make me look so good on screen. Thanks to my makeup artist Bhanu and I think she must have been my poorva jenma Thaai (my mother in my previous birth).”
On Vijay Sethupathi, he remarked, “For the character of Jithu, Karthik suggested Vijay Sethupathi. I was apprehensive if he would do it. Later, I heard that he was too willing to share screen space with me. He is not an ordinary actor. He is a Maha Nadigan. More than that, he is an excellent human being. He thinks differently. I was so happy to have had an opportunity to work with a great actor like VSP after a long time.”
Heaping laurels on Trisha, he said, “I was not too sure if Trisha would do the role which appears in the flashback, as it was a brief role. But, Karthik told me that she was keen to work with me. Trisha looks the same -ever fresh and beautiful when she debuted in films 16 years ago. One day, I asked her the secret of her beauty. She said she does yoga every day. No wonder, as yoga keeps not only your body but also your mind and heart stress free.”
Ending his speech on a philosophical note he said, “Don’t do anything in extra. Don’t talk extra, don’t eat extra, don’t think extra, don’t give extra advice, and don’t extra indulge in fame and your life will be happy if you follow this.”
Petta produced by Sun Pictures has Rajini, Vijay Sethupathi, Sasikumar, Bobby Simha, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Trisha, Simran among others. Anirudh has scored the music.
