Rajinikanth says he misses life as a bus conductor more than film stardom

Actor Rajinikanth revealed that he still misses his past days as a bus conductor and identifies more with that job than with his massive film stardom. Speaking on a special promotional show for his upcoming movie Jailer 2, the veteran actor answered questions from director Nelson Dilipkumar about his humble nature.

The Special Show

The team of Jailer 2 skipped traditional audio launch events and instead recorded a 'super show' that streamed on Sun NXT. During the interaction, Nelson asked Rajinikanth whether his humility is a natural trait or something he consciously keeps up for the public. Rajinikanth replied that even though he enjoys acting and holds major star status, he held the job of a conductor for five years and misses it to this day. He added that he travels back to Bengaluru often because conductors deal with everyday people, which helps him stay grounded.

Early Life and Background

Born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad to a Marathi family in Bengaluru, Rajinikanth studied the Vedas at the Ramakrishna Math during his youth, which sparked his interest in acting through local plays. Before entering cinema, he worked several odd jobs, including as a coolie and a bus conductor. Filmmaker K Balachander later spotted him at the Madras Film Institute and gave him his stage name to prevent confusion with veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan. Rajinikanth picked up the Tamil language specifically to work in films.

Upcoming Projects

Jailer 2 serves as a follow-up to the 2023 hit Jailer and hits theatres on October 15. Rajinikanth's recent film credits include Lal Salaam and Vettaiyan in 2024, along with Coolie. His future lineup also features Dharman directed by Ashwath Marimuthu and produced by Kamal Haasan, as well as an upcoming project bringing Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan together on screen under Nelson's direction.

Context

Public figures often share stories from their early struggling years to connect more deeply with their fans and maintain an image of approachability. Bengaluru remains an important personal anchor for Rajinikanth due to his roots and upbringing there before his film career took off in Chennai.