Did you know that Holi is a special day for Superstar Rajinikanth? It was during this festival day, back in 1975, that a certain bus conductor called Sivaji Rao Gaekwad became ‘Rajinikanth.’
It is well known that late director K. Balachander discovered the actor. When it came to christening him with a brand new name for the big screen, the filmmaker came up with three options. They were Rajinikanth, Chandrakanth and Srikkanth.
Sivaji Rao, then a newcomer to Tamil cinema, is said to have asked the filmmaker to make a choice. They zeroed in on the name ‘Rajinikanth,’ and the rest, as they say, is history. Rajinikanth starred in Apoorva Raagangal and went on to become a Superstar in Tamil cinema, with a huge fan base till date across the world.
Rajinikanth reportedly holds the ‘Holi’ day very close to his heart and would apparently call Balachander every year this day, irrespective of where he was. This practice continued till a few years ago, when, perhaps due to work commitments, Rajinikanth missed this routine phone call.
At a public function held a few years ago, Balachander interviewed Rajinikanth on stage and gently reminded him of this customary phone call. A slightly embarrassed Rajinikanth, in turn, promised that he would do so in the coming years.
With Balachander passing away in 2014, the occasion may have lost its colour for the Darbar star as he would not be able to keep his word to his mentor. But he will remember the memories for sure.
