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Meet superstar who worked as coolie, bus conductor, now challenges Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, beat up heroines in films, earns Rs 280 crore per film; has now net worth of Rs 4500000000...
After finishing school, he took up several jobs, including working as a coolie, before becoming a bus conductor with the Bangalore Transport Service.
Updated : Apr 29, 2025, 06:56 AM IST | Edited by : Manisha Chauhan
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Hard work can change lives, and this actor’s story proves it. He started as a bus conductor and became one of the country's biggest stars, showing that determination can take you anywhere.
We are talking about Rajinikanth. With a career of over five decades and 170+ films in Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu, he has won hearts with his unique style and has a huge fan base both in India and across the world. The Government of India has recognised his immense contribution to cinema by awarding him the Padma Bhushan in 2000, the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019.
Let’s take a look at his inspiring journey:
Rajinikanth was born as Shivaji Rao Gaikwad on December 12, 1950, into a Marathi Hindu family in Bangalore, Karnataka. He was the youngest of four siblings. After his father, a police constable, retired, the family shifted to Hanumantha Nagar. Rajinikanth lost his mother at the young age of nine.
Education:
Rajinikanth studied at Gavipuram Government Kannada Model Primary School, where he was known for being both studious and mischievous, with a love for sports like cricket and football. His brother later enrolled him at the Ramakrishna Math, where he developed an interest in spirituality and acting, earning praise for his performances in plays.
Worked as coolie, bus conductor
After completing his education at Acharya Pathasala Public School, Rajinikanth took up various jobs, including working as a coolie and later as a bus conductor for Bangalore Transport Service. His passion for acting led him to join the Madras Film Institute, despite his family's initial hesitation. A friend supported him financially during this time. At the institute, director K. Balachander noticed his talent, gave him the name Rajinikanth, and encouraged him to learn Tamil — a language he can now read but not write.
Rajinikanth went on to become one of India's biggest film legends, working alongside stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Today, his reported net worth stands at around Rs 430 crore.
