50 years of Rajinikanth: A look at Thalaivar's boldest character choices that shaped him into a legend

While many stars of his generation debuted as romantic leads, Rajini stepped into cinema as a villain.

Rajinikanth first appeared on the silver screen in the 1975 film Apoorva Raagangal. Back then no one predicted the magnitude of the phenomenon he would become.

Today, five decades later, Thalaivar isn’t just a title, it's a cultural identity. But behind the sunglasses, those cigarette flips, and punchy dialogues lies an often-overlooked truth that Rajinikanth’s career has been defined by fearless choices, and his willingness to subvert his own image. Unlike many, he refused to play it safe.

From villain to anti-hero

While many stars of his generation debuted as romantic leads, Rajini stepped into cinema as a villain. In early films like Moondru Mudichu (1976), he played characters who were morally grey, even menacing. It was a risk in an era when the audience worshipped their heroes. Rajinikanth built his brand by first being the man you loved to hate.

The common man’s superstar

By the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Rajini transitioned into leading roles, but his characters weren’t always larger-than-life. They were relatable. Films like Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979) saw him play a struggling man from adolescence to old age, showing the quiet pain of a breadwinner’s sacrifices. It’s still considered one of his most heart-wrenching performances.

The grey shades never left

Even after becoming the biggest star in Tamil cinema, Rajini didn’t abandon his experimental streak. In Avargal (1977) and Mullum Malarum (1978), he played flawed, layered characters, at times possessive, angry, even bitter. Few actors with his level of stardom would dare to look “unheroic” on screen, but Rajinikanth thrived on those challenges.

Commercial cinema with a twist 

Rajini mastered the “mass hero” template and his films like Billa (1980), Baashha (1995), and Sivaji (2007) are milestones in Indian commercial cinema. But even in these blockbusters, he layered his style with nuance, be it playing a don with a heart of gold, a vigilante with vulnerabilities, or a tech mogul with a conscience.

Going beyond boundaries

In the 2000s and beyond, Rajini took bold swings with Enthiran (2010) and Kaala (2018) — one a sci-fi spectacle where he played both a scientist and a destructive robot, the other a gritty political drama tackling caste and land rights. These weren’t just star vehicles; they were genre-defining experiments that proved Rajini was unafraid to evolve.

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What’s next?

Now, as Rajinikanth celebrates 50 years in cinema, his next project, Coolie, is already generating feverish anticipation. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film promises a gritty, action-packed ride, with early teasers hinting at Rajini in a gangster avatar.