Paying tributes to Kannada film veteran Vishnuvardhan who passed away recently, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth said it was the late actor who encouraged him to take up initial offers in Tamil films, which subsequently paved the path for his stardom in Kollywood.
The superstar called on Vishnuvardhan’s wife Bharati at her residence here and offered his condolences and recounted his close association with Vishnuvardhan.
He also apologised for being unable to attend the funeral of his “old and dear” friend owing to his hectic schedule.
Going down the memory lane, Rajnikant told reporters, “Once I got an offer from Tamil film producer and also from a Kannada producer simultaneously. I was in a dilemma, which offer to choose. It was Vishnu who advised me to take up the Tamil film offer.”
“He advised me that I should achieve something there and should go there and excel,” he said.
“I cannot explain the value of our friendship. Our friendship was one that could be enjoyed, not one that could be expressed in words,” said Rajinikanth.
Rajinikanth, who spent some time with the bereaved family, said Vishnuvardhan’s death is a “great loss” to him. “I have no words to convey the sense of loss,” he said.
Clad in white kurta, Rajinikanth was greeted by members of the Kannada film industry including actor Ambarish and producer Rockline Venkatesh when he arrived at the Jayanagar residence of Vishnuvardhan.
A posse of film personnel stood guard at the residence. The roads near the residence were cordoned off and movements of vehicles diverted in wake of Rajinikanth’s visit.
