Why Censor chief Pahlaj Nihalani feels Rajinikanth won't turn to politics

A recent speech made by South superstar Rajinikanth to fans, urging them to change “the system” and prepare for “a war” was vague at best, but it made several political watchers assume that he was making his political intentions known.

Some went as far as assuming that he would either be inducted into the Bharatiya Janata Party (which is ruling at the Centre, but does not have a presence in Tamil Nadu, Rajini’s home state) or float his own party.

The chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Pahlaj Nihalani shoots down all the speculations calling it a “useless debate”. He says, “Rajiniji will never join politics. He is totally against actors going into politics. In fact, when I told Rajiniji about his colleague (and dear friend) Shatrughan Sinha’s plans to join politics in 2009, he was very disturbed. He tried his best to dissuade Sinha. He felt Shatruji’s fans would feel cheated.”

In fact, when Amitabh Bachchan joined politics, Pahlaj says, Rajinikanth repeatedly asked, “Why must a superstar of his stature go into politics?”

And so, Nihalani is quick enough to rule out a political career for the Thalaivaa. He says, “Rajiniji’s family thinks he is too innocent to understand politics. He has got feelers from all the parties. But he is not getting into it.”