Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presents "NDTV Indian of the Year" (best popular film) award to Rajnikanth at a function on January 17, 2008. Photo; Shanker Chakarvarty
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan meets Superstar Rajnikanth in Chennai. Rajnikanth's daughter Soundarya is also seen in the picture. Rajni played as "Chitti - the Robot" in Shah Rukh Khan's home production "Ra One". Photo: PTI
Superstar Rajnikanth's fans celebrates the release of "Endhiran" at a theatre in Chennai. Photo: R. Ravindran
Superstar Rajnikanth with Chandrababu Naidu during a special screening of Rajni's "Shivaji" in Hyderabad on June 14, 2007. Photo: H. Satish
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa with superstar Rajnikanth during the marriage of his daugher Aishwarya with actor Dhanush in this November 18, 2004 picture. Photo: DIPR
In this January 11, 2008 picture, the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi presents a memento to actor Rajnikanth, at the silver jubilee celebrations of "Shivaji", in Chennai. Photo: S.S. Kumar
Raja Bahadur, a close friend of Rajnikanth. He was a driver with Bangalore BMTC when Rajnikanth worked with him as a conductor. Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar
Superstar Rajnikanth with actor Vijay at the silver jubilee celebrations of "Gilli" in Chennai in this June 1, 2005 picture. Photo: M. Srinath
Rajnikanth fans, led by film producer N.V. Prasad, break 1016 coconuts at Alipiri trekking path in Tirupati, praying for the speedy recovery of the Superstar in this May 25, 2011 picture. Rajnikanth fell ill on the opening day of the shooting of "Rana" and took treatment at a hospital in Singapore. Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar
Fans throng a theatre at Coimbatore during the release of "Chandramukhi". Photo: S. Siva Saravanan
Superstar Rajnikanth with Director K. Balachander and actor Kamal Haasan during the audio release function of "Poi" in Chennai on February 12, 2006. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao
A still from the blockbuster "Shivaji - The Boss". Photo: Special Arrangement
Superstar Rajnikanth's fans show arthi at a theatre in Chennai during the release of "Kuselan" on January 1, 2008. Photo: R. Ravindran
Actor Rajnikanth and director Balachander arrive at the Sankara Ratna Award function on October 29, 2011. Photo: R. Ragu
(from left) Nalini Chidambaram, Poet Vairamuthu, R.M. Veerappan, DMK leader K. Anbazhagan, actors Kamal Haasan, Rajnikanth and Sivakumar the memorial service of Soundara Kailasam in Chennai on November 13, 2010. Photo: R. Ravindran
Superstar Rajnikanth's fans throng a theatre in Chennai during the release of "Endhiran". Photo; R. Ravindran
People love to watch Rajnikanth's movies all over India. Fans here line up to watch the movie "Endhiran" at a theatre in Vijayawada. Photo; Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar
Rajnikanth's fans perform "Palabhishekam" to a banner at a theatre in Tiruchi. Photo: R. Ashok
Superstar Rajnikanth, mega star Chiranjeevi and director Shankar during the audio launch of the film "Robot", in Hyderabad on August 6, 2010. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy
Mammooty and Rajnikanth during the 9th FEFSI Conference in Chennai on October 9, 2009. Photo: K. Pichumani
A special visit to the Baba Caves by Superstar Rajnikanth. Here, he is seen with some kids during the journey. Photo: Special Arrangement
Superstar Rajnikanth with his friend and actor Kamal Haasan during the "Kamal 50" programme in Chennai on September 28, 2009. Photo: S.R. Raghunathan
(from left) Latha Rajnikanth, Soudarya, Aishwarya and Dhanush during the silver jubilee celebrations of the movie "Shivaji" in Chennai on January 11, 2008. Photo: S.S. Kumar
A fan gives sweet to the Rajnikanth hoarding at a theatre in Tiruchi during the release of "Shivaji" on June 15, 2007. Photo; R. Ashok