Superstar & his Six Directors

Superstar Rajinikanth is in the eye of the media ever since the buzz over his last film Sivaji died down. This movie gave a new dimension to Rajini’s films and the director who was to next don the mantle for his film had to either measure up to the quality and technical finesse if not scale Sivaji, which is something apparently only a few can.

As has been the trend, his fans have started guessing who the director of his next film could be and adding fuel to this fire is the media trying to give a twist to every possible incident that the superstar is a part of.

Let us look at the events that led to conclusions by the media that only fizzled out later. We have tried to chronologically list these events that unfolded after Sivaji hit the theatres.

First it was none other than Gajini director Murugadoss who had a short meeting with the superstar at his Poes Garden residence. This fuelled rumors that this could be a story discussion for their next movie together but all this was mere media speculation as insiders revealed that what came through was just a courtesy meeting between the two and the actor was enquiring about the way his Hindi remake of Gajini was progressing. Much was expected out of this meeting with one director whose rise to fame can be best described as meteorical to say the least.

Next it was his favorite director P. Vasu who last directed the superstar in Chandramukhi, one of his biggest hits till date. Vasu while addressing the press during a function, a few months after Sivaji release, said that he had ideas of making a sequel to his last hit Chandramukhi titled Vettaiyyan for Sivaji productions, which he intends casting the superstar but added that he will develop the script only when he gets a go ahead from the actor himself. With the superstar remaining silent on the issue the topic died down as fast as it came up.

Thirdly, a meeting between Mani Ratnam and Rajinkanth at Mani’s office, which later turned out to be a condolence meeting for the death of Mani Ratnam’s brother Srinivasan. This didn’t gain importance until the two met again at two different instances at the actor’s Poes Garden residence.

With a meeting between Kamal a few days later, the news gained momentum and it got a new twist when rumors pointed to Kamal producing the venture that Mani Ratnam was directing. When Rajini vehemently denied this, the matter eventually fizzled out. It again got a lease of life when Kamal, during the inauguration of the Kerala International Film Festival, expressed his intentions of producing a film with the superstar. As usual this didn’t last long either after Rajini clarified that he wasn’t approached by anyone in this regard during the preview of the Telugu movie Chirutha.

Resting all the rumors to sleep, the superstar went on a working vacation to Belgium and the US for the preparatory work of his daughter’s animated venture Sultan – The Warrior.

The hibernation didn’t last for long and soon enough when K.S. Ravikumar had a long meeting with the actor at his marriage hall the rumor mills started generating gossips again. News was out that the shelved project Jaggubhai could be revived but the meeting was finally dismissed by close sources as a casual discussion. They even cited that serious discussion regarding films and scripts always took place either at the actor’s Poes garden residence or his farmhouse in Kelambakkam.

In the midst of all this, Murugadoss’ name did the rounds yet again as the two had a closed-door meeting but this again was only a courtesy call by the director.

The media so thirsty for news on his next film that it even went to the extent of construing the meeting of the actor

with his protégé Lawrence as one that was regarding their next venture together, only to be denied by the two. It turned out that the Superstar was just wishing Lawerence all the best for his just released Telugu movie, Don, starring Nagarjun.

The circle of life seems to have done one complete rotation and finally news is that Shankar, his director for Sivaji, who is on the lookout for an actor for his dream project Robot has zeroed in on Rajinikanth. Shankar had almost signed the film with Shah Rukh Khan acting and producing it but things didn’t go through. Aamir was in contention and even our very own Ajith was said to be donning the role in this sci-fi thriller. Industry sources however rule out this option saying it is highly unlikely the superstar would agree to be a part of another long project.

Sources close to the actor confirm that at present he is busy giving useful tips to his daughter who is producing her first full length animation feature Sultan – The Warrior and that he wouldn’t commit himself to any other project any time soon. Also this project would take some months to complete and the actor, being one who plays his cards close to his chest, alone knows best.

And having said all this, don't be surprised if the man himself comes up tomorrow with an announcement of a project with someone out of or outside these six directors. That is the unpredictability that comes with Rajinikanth.

We didn’t start the fire it was always burning since the world’s been turning. All we are presenting is a status quo dossier.