Editing Rajinikanth (section)

==Early life and background==

Rajinikanth was born as Shivaji Rao Gaikwad on 12 December 1950 in a [[Marathi people|Marathi]] family in [[Bangalore]], [[Mysore State]] (present day [[Karnataka]]).{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. Introduction}}<ref name=shivaji /><ref name="birth">{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bangalore/Even_more_acclaim_will_come_his_way/articleshow/2178985.cms |title=Even more acclaim will come his way |last=Ruma Singh |date=6 July 2007 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=20 April 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216163710/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bangalore/Even_more_acclaim_will_come_his_way/articleshow/2178985.cms |archive-date=16 February 2012}}</ref> His mother was a homemaker,{{efn|While [[Naman Ramachandran]]'s 2012 biography of Rajinikanth identifies his mother's name as Ramabai,<ref name=shivaji/> journalist Ramachandra Rao, a childhood friend of the actor, said in 2012 that her name was Jijabai.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/tracing-kabalis-rajinikanth-his-link-to-shivaji/articleshow/53330949.cms |title=Tracing 'Kabali's' Rajinikanth & his link to Shivaji |date=22 July 2016 |website=[[The Economic Times]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411143021/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/tracing-kabalis-rajinikanth-his-link-to-shivaji/articleshow/53330949.cms |archive-date=11 April 2017 |access-date=11 April 2017}}</ref>}} and his father Ramoji Rao Gaekwad was a police constable.<ref name="shivaji">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-how-shivaji-became-rajanikanth/20130116.htm |title=How Shivaji became Rajinikanth |work=Rediff.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006154556/http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-how-shivaji-became-rajanikanth/20130116.htm |archive-date=6 October 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014}}</ref> His ancestors hailed from [[Mavadi Kadepathar]], [[Pune district]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/pune/report-rajinikanth-invited-for-saswad-literary-meeting-1942995 |title=Rajinikanth invited for Saswad literary meeting |date=31 December 2013 |work=Daily News and Analysis |access-date=5 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123014805/http://www.dnaindia.com/pune/report-rajinikanth-invited-for-saswad-literary-meeting-1942995 |archive-date=23 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Rajini-creates-drinking-water-facility-in-his-parentsrsquo-memory/article16624915.ece |title=Rajini creates drinking water facility in his parents' memory |newspaper=The Hindu |date=28 April 2009 |via=www.thehindu.com |access-date=20 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602083354/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Rajini-creates-drinking-water-facility-in-his-parentsrsquo-memory/article16624915.ece |archive-date=2 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> He is the youngest of four siblings in a family consisting of two elder brothers (Satyanarayana Rao and Nageshwara Rao) and a sister (Aswath Balubhai).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tamilstar.com/news-id-rajinikanth-birthday-rajinikanth-life-history-12-12-111181.htm |title=Biographical article about Superstar Rajini Kanth |website=www.tamilstar.com |publisher=Tamil Star Inc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006121541/http://www.tamilstar.com/news-id-rajinikanth-birthday-rajinikanth-life-history-12-12-111181.htm |archive-date=6 October 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014}}</ref>{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. Introduction}} After his father's retirement from work in 1956, the family moved to the suburb of [[Hanumanthanagar, Bengaluru|Hanumantha Nagar]] in Bangalore and built a house there.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. Introduction}} He lost his mother at the age of nine.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/reel-to-real-image-a-tome/article4278597.ece |title=Reel to real image, a tome |last=S |first=Anandan |date=6 January 2013 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=22 February 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628032143/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/reel-to-real-image-a-tome/article4278597.ece |archive-date=28 June 2013}}</ref>

Rajinikanth had his primary education at the Gavipuram Government Kannada Model Primary School in Bangalore.<ref name="Primary">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/rajini-s-friends-to-renovate-primary-school-news-kannada-kmnme1fbiff.html |title=Rajini's friends to renovate primary school |date=13 December 2010 |website=[[Sify]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205145727/http://www.sify.com/movies/rajini-s-friends-to-renovate-primary-school-news-kannada-kmnme1fbiff.html |archive-date=5 December 2013 |access-date=9 July 2011}}</ref> As a child, he was "studious and mischievous" with a great interest in cricket, football and basketball. During this time, his brother enrolled him at the [[Ramakrishna Math]], a Hindu monastery set up by the [[Ramakrishna Mission]]. In the ''math'', he was taught [[Vedas]], tradition and history, which eventually instilled a sense of spirituality in him.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. 1}} In addition to spiritual lessons, he also began acting in plays at the ''math''. His aspiration towards theatre grew at the math and was once given an opportunity to enact the role of ''[[Ekalavya]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s friend from the Hindu epic [[Mahabharata]]. His performance in the play received praise from the Kannada poet [[D. R. Bendre]].{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. Introduction}} After sixth grade, Rajinikanth was enrolled at the [[Acharya Pathasala Public School]] and studied there till completion of his [[pre-university course]].{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. 1}} During his schooling at the ''Acharya Pathasala'', he spent a lot of time acting in plays.

Upon completion of his school education, Rajinikanth performed several jobs including that of a [[coolie]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-specials-9-life-lessons-to-learn-from-rajinikanth/20121212.htm#2 |title=1. Struggle is a stepping stone |date=12 December 2012 |work=Rediff.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204092600/http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-specials-9-life-lessons-to-learn-from-rajinikanth/20121212.htm |archive-date=4 February 2014 |access-date=5 February 2014}}</ref> before getting a job in the [[Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation|Bangalore Transport Service]] as a [[bus conductor]].<ref name="bmtc">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/dec/22friend.htm |title=You can see God in him at times |last=M. D |first=Riti |date=22 December 1999 |work=[[Rediff.com]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101320/http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/dec/22friend.htm |archive-date=6 October 2014 |access-date=14 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]|language=Ta|url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1983-06-05/page/n45/mode/2up|pages=46–48|date=5 June 1983|access-date=21 April 2023|title=சிவாஜிராவின் இளமைப்பருவம்}}</ref> He continued to take part in plays after the Kannada playwright Topi Muniappa offered him a chance to act in one of his mythological plays. He decided to take up an acting course in the newly formed [[Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu|Madras Film Institute]] after coming across an advertisement.<ref name="MM1">{{Cite news |date=2 February 2009 |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2009/02/02164256/Rajini05.html |title=திரைப்படக் கல்லூரியில் 2 ஆண்டு நடிப்பு பயிற்சி |work=[[Maalai Malar]] |access-date=6 February 2014 |language=ta |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140206101403/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2009/02/02164256/Rajini05.html |archive-date=6 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Although his family was not fully supportive of his decision to join the institute,<ref name=MM1 /> his friend and co-worker Raj Bahadur motivated him to join the institute and financially supported him during this phase.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/16/stories/2007061612510100.htm |title=He drove Rajnikant to stardom |last=K. V. Subramanya |date=16 June 2007 |access-date=4 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107065743/http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/16/stories/2007061612510100.htm |archive-date=7 November 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/jun/13ssraj.htm |title=Meet the bus driver Rajni worked with |date=13 June 2007 |work=Rediff.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106150541/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/jun/13ssraj.htm |archive-date=6 November 2014 |access-date=9 September 2010}}</ref> During his stay at the institute, he was noticed by the Tamil film director [[K. Balachander]].<ref name="Rajini">{{Cite web |url=http://forbesindia.com/article/recliner/why-rajinikanth-rocks/17592/1?id=17592&pg=1 |title=Why Rajinikanth Rocks |last=Lakhe |first=Manisha |date=27 September 2010 |website=[[Forbes]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327154329/http://forbesindia.com/article/recliner/why-rajinikanth-rocks/17592/1?id=17592&pg=1 |archive-date=27 March 2015 |access-date=9 April 2011}}</ref> Balachander provided Rajinikanth with his stage name to avoid confusion with fellow actor [[Sivaji Ganesan]], having taken it from a character's name in his earlier film ''[[Major Chandrakanth (1966 film)|Major Chandrakanth]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vaasanthi |title=Rajinikanth: A Life |date=2021 |isbn=978-93-90652-10-5 |location=New Delhi |oclc=1268466867}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 December 2012 |title=It was a small role, but people would remember him |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/It-was-a-small-role-but-people-would-remember-him/article12190436.ece |url-status=live |access-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406055925/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/It-was-a-small-role-but-people-would-remember-him/article12190436.ece |archive-date=6 April 2018}}</ref> The [[K. Balachander|director]] advised him to learn to speak [[Tamil language|Tamil]], a recommendation that Rajinikanth quickly followed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://forbesindia.com/article/person-of-the-year-10/rajinikanth-who-really-is-the-super-star/20452/2?id=20452&pg=2 |access-date=22 February 2013 |title=Rajinikanth: Who Really Is the Super Star? |last1=N.S. |first1=Ramnath |last2=D'Souza |first2=Nilofer |date=22 December 2010 |website=[[Forbes]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418110323/http://forbesindia.com/article/person-of-the-year-10/rajinikanth-who-really-is-the-super-star/20452/2?id=20452&pg=2 |archive-date=18 April 2015}}</ref> Although he can read the language, he cannot write in it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Asokan |first=Mamtha |date=25 October 2021 |title=Does Rajinikanth know how to write in Tamil? Daughter Soundarya says he doesn't |website=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/does-rajinikanth-know-how-to-write-in-tamil-daughter-soundarya-says-he-doesnt/articleshow/87263200.cms |access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref>