Rajinikanth, one of Indian cinema's most iconic stars, owes much of his legendary journey to a friend's timely support. Before rising to stardom, Rajinikanth was a bus conductor with dreams of becoming an actor. But like many aspiring artists, he faced a major hurdle—lack of money to pursue formal training.

At this turning point, his friend Raj Bahadur stepped in. Aware of Rajinikanth’s deep interest in acting, Raj Bahadur not only encouraged him but also helped him financially, enabling him to join the prestigious Madras Film Institute. That support changed everything—a megastar was born.

Rajinikanth has never forgotten this gesture. In fact, during the 2021 National Film Awards, while accepting the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, he publicly thanked Raj Bahadur and credited him for being a key part of his journey.

His cinematic journey began with the 1975 film Apoorva Raagangal, and since then, there’s been no looking back. From Tamil cinema to Bollywood, Rajinikanth has delivered numerous blockbusters and continues to headline films even at the age of 74.

Up next, the superstar will be seen in ‘Coolie: The Powerhouse’, releasing on August 14, which is set to clash with Hrithik Roshan’s ‘War 2’ at the box office.