India loves Rajinikanth, but will Tamil Nadu voters bathe him in glory?

The film icon is aiming to break into the Tamil Nadu political scene, which has long been dominated by two parties

But old age, poor health, the coronavirus, and his good friend PM Narendra Modi could hurt his plans

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Tamil actor Rajinikanth in Chennai on December 3, 2020. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:00am, 11 Dec 2020Updated: 8:04pm, 12 Dec 2020

Indian cinema icon Rajinikanth’s latest declaration to enter politics has generated nationwide excitement, as he eyes “changing the destiny” of Tamil Nadu, a state that has been dominated by two parties for over five decades.

The Tamil film star – who has fans bathing his cut-outs in milk, a ritual usually reserved for gods – last week said he would launch his “non-corrupt, honest, transparent and secular party” in January, with the aim of contesting all 234 seats in Tamil Nadu’s assembly elections next April.

“Our politics will be spiritual politics, unlike the politics of hatred currently being practised. We will not slam anybody,” Rajinikanth, 71, told reporters on Saturday. “Let us change everything. If not now, it will never be … This is the time for changing the destiny of Tamil Nadu.”

Fans of Rajinikanth celebrate the news of his political party launch in Chennai. Photo: AP

It is no secret that Rajinikanth, known by fans as “Thalaivar” (leader), has political ambitions. The superstar has for the past 25 years made similar announcements about his impending bids for public office, though nothing came of them.

So frequent were his declarations to launch a political party that critics usually viewed them to be a marketing ploy to promote his latest film releases.