Name and fame won’t suffice for political success: Rajini
Star-studded gathering:Actors Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Prabhu at the inaugural of the Sivaji Ganesan memorial in Chennai on Sunday.R. RaguR_Ragu
Maybe Kamal knows what it takes, but he won’t tell me, says the film star, evoking no response from his long-time associate in the film world
Tamil film superstar Rajinikanth, who some months ago hinted about his impending entry into politics, on Sunday used a public function to subtly take on his potential political rival from the film industry, Kamal Haasan.
Participating in the function organised to inaugurate thespian Sivaji Ganesan’s memorial at Adyar, Rajinikanth suggested that now that his long-time associate in the film world, Kamal Haasan, has decided to make a foray into politics, the latter would not share his thoughts on politics with him.
“Sivaji Ganesan sir had taught his juniors in the field a lesson. He had contested in elections from his home constituency, and lost. But this was not a humiliation for him, but [it was] for the electors there. This made all of us realise that for one to be successful in politics, mere name and fame from being in the film industry was not enough,” the actor said, adding, “There is something more needed to be successful in politics, and only the public knows what it is.”
Politics and success
In a lighter vein, Rajinikanth said that he did not know what it was that was needed to be successful in politics. “Maybe Kamal knows. However, even if he knows, he won’t tell me. He might have told me if I had asked him two months ago (when Kamal Haasan had not made his political intentions clear),” he said. Kamal Haasan was also on stage.
While this was met with loud cheers, Rajinikanth continued, “Even if I go and tell him — Anna [brother], I’m your younger brother, please tell me — he will tell me to join him, and that he will then explain.”
In his tribute to Sivaji Ganesan, Mr. Rajinikanth said that at a time when how one should act was predefined, Sivaji Ganesan created a revolution as far as all aspects of acting were concerned.
‘No one could stop me’
When his turn to address the gathering came, Kamal Haasan, a self-professed fan of Sivaji Ganesan, did not respond to Rajinikanth’s comments, and instead said that no one could have stopped him from attending the event.
The actor has been critical of the AIADMK government, and over the past few weeks, has been underscoring the need to fight corruption.
“If I had not been an actor, I would have still been a fan of Sivaji Ganesan and I would have been here, waiting to see the inauguration of the memorial,” he said.
Declaring that no one was being forced to respect Sivaji Ganesan, Mr. Haasan stated that Tamilians were not thankless people, and that the actor would always be remembered in the State. “There are many who have followed in his footsteps. I am here as a fan of his and not as an artist,” he said.
Earlier, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who were among the audience, were invited by Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar to come on to the stage. The actors appeared reluctant, but later shared the dais with Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.
Mr. Jayakumar, who has been highly critical of Kamal Haasan in view of the latter’s attacks on the government, presented a shawl to the actor on the occasion, while Mr. Panneerselvam did the honours for Rajinikanth.
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