Rajinikanth’s, the larger-than-life superstar, had an interesting journey to reach to the top of the pantheon of Indian cinema as he was initially a bus conductor who later joined films at 25.

His success story was anything but typical.

Starting his early life as a bus conductor in Karnataka, he joined films at the age of 25.

His first big commercial hit came with his 25th outing. On screen, he performed in black and white, colour, 3D and motion capture. Off it, he never hid his balding pate and greying beard.

According to R Kannan, the author of MGR: A Life, Rajinikanth was an actor who defied the grammar of charisma.

He said Rajini equalled M G Ramachandran in his acting career. But the difference lay in the former’s reluctance in consciously building an image.

Rajini will be bestowed the government’s highest honour for Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

He thanked many people for making a significant contribution in shaping his life which included his friend, the bus driver Raj Bahadur (who he dedicated the award to), for encouraging him to travel to Chennai, then Madras, to pursue acting.

He also thanked his brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaikwad, for “many sacrifices” he made to fulfil his dreams amid the difficulties in early life.

His mentor, the late Tamil filmmaker K Balachander, who gave him his “first break”, catalysing his transformation from Shivaji Rao Gaikwad to ‘Rajinikanth’ as well as to his “friend”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The others who were expressed gratitude by the veteran actor included producers, directors, technicians, distributors, theatre owners and the media. And, especially, the “Tamil people who have helped me thrive, and my fans all over the world”, the legendary actor said.