43 – The number of years in which movie star Rajinikanth has amassed a gargantuan fan following and established himself as one of the most revered figures of Indian cinema.
164 – The number of feature films he has starred as a hero in, including Kaala, which releases in the UAE on June 6.
176 – The number of films he has appeared in, according to Rajinikanth’s filmography. The Boss, as he is affectionately dubbed by his fans, has appeared in a myriad of works that include documentaries, cameos, and special guest appearances, with each one of them possessing charismatic expressions, quotable dialogues, and an overly dramatic portrayal of his characters. Not to mention, scenes that involve him doing the trademark cigarette toss.
33 – In his illustrious career, Rajinikanth has been nominated 33 times for a plethora of awards, ranging from Filmfare South Awards to Tamil Nadu State Awards. Out of this, he has won 30 times.
4.7 million – As one of the most popular icons of 20th and 21st century Indian pop culture (yes, he transcends centuries), he has accumulated more than 4.7 million followers on Twitter.
210,000 – Within the first day of launching his Twitter account, it was speculated that he generated more than 210,000 followers, making it the fastest, and the highest rise in India, and among the Top 10 in the world, as per figures obtained from The Economic Times. While this sounds like the punchline to a Rajinikanth joke, you can rest assured that these numbers are accurate.
150,000 – In addition to his online presence, the fanfare behind the superstar reaches unbelievable levels in real life. According to the documentary For the Love of a Man (2015), there are more than 150,000 registered fan clubs, with an estimate of at least 25 people in each fan club. With such mass hysteria, it is not bewildering to see him participate in regional politics.
50 – However, behind all the flamboyance and the superstardom, lies a modest man. According to the book, Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography, he has given around 50 per cent of his earnings to various charities, but he prefers not to publicise such deeds.
4 – Due to the establishment of such an inspired fan culture revolving around his cinematic persona, it is no surprise that he dominates the regional box office. Rajinikanth has 4 out of 10 films in the top 10 list of the highest grossing Tamil films.
44 million – Rajinikanth’s films Enthiran (2010) and Kabali (2016) have earned a worldwide gross of $44 million (Dh161.5 million) according to reports by The Indian Express and International Business Times respectively.
8.6 million – For his role in Sivaji: The Boss, it was reported by The Times of India, that he received $8.6 million, making him the second highest paid actor in Asia, after Jackie Chan. Now that is a battle for the reckoning.
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Kaala releases in the UAE on June 6.
— Sanjay Shankar is an intern at Gulf News.
