Rajinikanth filmography

Rajinikanth is an Indian actor who has appeared in over 170 films, mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his film career by playing antagonistic and supporting roles before graduating to a lead actor. After starring in numerous commercially successful films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he has continued to hold a matinée idol status in the popular culture of Tamil Nadu. Writing for Slate, Grady Hendrix called him the "biggest movie star you've probably never heard of." Rajinikanth has also worked in other Indian film industries such as Bollywood, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali.

 Overview 
He made his cinematic debut with K. Balachander's 1975 Tamil drama Apoorva Raagangal, in which he played a minor role of an abusive husband. He had his first major role in Balachander's Telugu drama film Anthuleni Katha (1976), and got his breakthrough in Tamil with Moondru Mudichu (1976)—also directed by Balachander. His style and mannerisms in the latter earned recognition from the audience. In 1977, he acted in 15 films, playing negative characters in most of them, including Avargal, 16 Vayathinile, Aadu Puli Attam and Gaayathri. He had positive roles in Kavikkuyil, the Kannada film Sahodarara Savaal, and the Telugu film Chilakamma Cheppindi, in which he played the protagonist for the first time in his career. His role as a failed lover in S. P. Muthuraman's Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri (1977) won him critical acclaim. In 1978, he was cast as the main lead in the Tamil film Bairavi. The same year, he received critical acclaim for his roles in Mullum Malarum and Aval Appadithan; the former earned him a Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actor. He made his Malayalam cinema debut with I. V. Sasi's fantasy drama Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum (1979), an adaptation of a story from One Thousand and One Nights. By the end of the decade, he had worked in all South Indian languages and established a career in Tamil cinema.

He played dual roles in the action thriller Billa (1980), which was a remake of the Bollywood film Don (1978). It was his biggest commercial success to that point and gave him the "action-hero" image. Balachander's Thillu Mullu (1981), the Tamil remake of the Bollywood film Gol Maal (1979), was Rajinikanth's first full-length comedy film. He played triple roles in the 1982 Tamil film Moondru Mugam, which earned him a special prize at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards ceremony. The following year, he made his Bollywood debut with Rama Rao Tatineni's Andha Kanoon; it was among the top-grossing Bollywood films in 1983. Muthuraman's Nallavanuku Nallavan (1984) won him that year's Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor. In 1985, he portrayed the Hindu saint Raghavendra Swami in his 100th film Sri Raghavendrar, a box-office failure. In the latter half of the 1980s, he starred in several films in Tamil and Hindi, including Padikkadavan (1985), Mr. Bharath (1986), Bhagwaan Dada (1986), Velaikaran (1987), Guru Sishyan (1988) and Dharmathin Thalaivan (1988). During this time, he made his debut in American cinema with a supporting role in the mystery adventure film Bloodstone (1988), a box-office failure.

Rajinikanth continued to act in Bollywood, often playing supporting roles in films such as Hum, Khoon Ka Karz, and Phool Bane Angaray (all in 1991). Mani Ratnam's Tamil film Thalapathi (1991), based on the Indian epic Mahabharata, earned him critical acclaim. Suresh Krissna's Annamalai (1992), P. Vasu's Mannan (1992) and Uzhaippali (1993) are among his box-office successes in Tamil. He made his debut as a screenwriter with Valli (1993), a commercial failure. The Suresh Krissna-directed  Baashha, in which he played a crime boss, was a major commercial success in his career and earned him a "demigod" status in Tamil Nadu. Later that year he acted in K. S. Ravikumar's Muthu, which was dubbed into Japanese. In Japan, the film grossed a record US$1.6 million in 1998 and was largely instrumental in creating a fan-base for Rajinikanth in the country. Padayappa (1999), his second collaboration with Ravikumar, went on to become the highest-grossing Tamil film to that point. In 2002 Rajinikanth produced, wrote and starred in the fantasy thriller Baba, which fell short of market expectations and incurred heavy losses for its distributors. After a three-year sabbatical, he returned to acting with the comedy horror film Chandramukhi (2005); it went on to become the highest-grossing Tamil film to that point, and its theatrical run lasted 126 weeks at a theatre in Chennai. Rajinikanth was paid 260 million for his role in S. Shankar's Sivaji (2007), which made him the second-highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan. He played dual roles, as a scientist and an andro-humanoid robot, in the science fiction film Enthiran (2010). It was India's most expensive production at the time of its release, and is among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time. He played triple roles in the 2014 animated film Kochadaiiyaan, the first in India to be shot with motion capture technology; it was a commercial failure. Two years later, Rajinikanth played a Malaysian Tamil crime boss in Pa. Ranjith's Kabali, which had the biggest weekend opening for an Indian film.

His recent blockbuster, Jailer (2023), directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, grossed over 600 crores, making it his second film to gross over the 500 and 600 crores mark, securing the position among highest grossing Tamil film of 2023 and the highest grossing Indian films of all time. With this film, he has also established himself as the only actor in Tamil cinema with  two film to gross over 600 crore. {

 Films 
+Key  Denotes films that have not yet been released

+ List of films acted by RajinikanthFilmYearRole(s)Language(s)Director(s)Notes Apoorva Raagangal 1975  Pandiyan  Tamil      Katha Sangama 1976  Kondaji  Kannada     Anthuleni Katha 1976  Murthy  Telugu     Moondru Mudichu 1976  Prasad  Tamil      Baalu Jenu 1976  Vasu  Kannada  ,   Avargal 1977  Ramanathan  Tamil      Kavikkuyil 1977  Murugan  Tamil      Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram 1977  Veeraiyan  Tamil    Chilakamma Cheppindi 1977  Ravi  Telugu     Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri 1977  Sampath  Tamil     Ondu Premada Kathe 1977  Local school chairman  Kannada     16 Vayathinile 1977  Parattai  Tamil      Sahodarara Savaal 1977  Shekhar  Kannada     Aadu Puli Attam 1977  Rajini  Tamil      Gaayathri 1977  Rajarathinam  Tamil     Kumkuma Rakshe 1977  Unknown  Kannada      Aarupushpangal 1977  Ravi  Tamil     Tholireyi Gadichindi 1977  Unknown  Telugu      Aame Katha 1977  Unknown  Telugu      Galate Samsara 1977  Sundar  Kannada     Shankar Salim Simon 1978  Simon  Tamil     Kiladi Kittu 1978  Srikanth  Kannada     Annadammula Savaal 1978  Rangababu  Telugu      Aayiram Jenmangal 1978  Ramesh  Tamil      Maathu Tappada Maga 1978  Unknown  Kannada     Mangudi Minor 1978  Kumar  Tamil     Bairavi 1978  Mookaiah  Tamil  M. Bhaskar   Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu 1978  Murali  Tamil      Sadhurangam 1978  Kumaresan  Tamil      Vanakkatukuriya Kathaliye 1978  Joe  Tamil      Vayasu Pilichindi 1978  Murali  Telugu     Mullum Malarum 1978  Kaali  Tamil    Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize  Iraivan Kodutha Varam 1978  Rajinikanth  Tamil      Thappida Thala 1978  Devu  Kannada      Thappu Thalangal 1978  Deva  Tamil      Aval Appadithan 1978  Thyagu  Tamil     Thai Meethu Sathiyam 1978  Babu  Tamil     En Kelvikku Enna Bathil 1978  Solomon  Tamil      Paavathin Sambalam 1978  Himself  Tamil    Guest appearance  Justice Gopinath 1978  Ravi  Tamil      Priya 1978  Ganesh  Tamil    Tamil–Kannada bilingual film  Priya 1979  Ganesh  Kannada   Tamil–Kannada bilingual film  Kuppathu Raja 1979  Raja  Tamil      Iddaru Asadhyule 1979  Bhaskar  Telugu     Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum 1979  Kamruddin  Malayalam    Malayalam–Tamil bilingual film  Ninaithale Inikkum 1979  Deepak  Tamil    Tamil–Telugu bilingual film  Andamaina Anubhavam 1979  Dileep  Telugu    Tamil–Telugu bilingual film  Thaayillamal Naan Illai 1979  Bichwa Bakri  Tamil    Guest appearance  Allaudinaum Arputha Vilakkum 1979  Kamruddin  Tamil    Malayalam–Tamil bilingual film  Dharma Yuddam 1979  Raja  Tamil     Naan Vazhavaippen 1979  Michael D'Souza  Tamil     Tiger 1979  Rashid  Telugu     Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai 1979  Santhanam  Tamil     Annai Oru Aalayam 1979  Vijay  Tamil    Tamil–Telugu bilingual film  Amma Evarikkaina Amma 1979  Vijay  Telugu    Tamil–Telugu bilingual film  Billa 1980  David Billa,Rajappa  Tamil    Natchathiram 1980  Himself  Tamil    Guest appearance   Ram Robert Rahim 1980  Ram  Telugu      Anbukku Naan Adimai 1980  Gopinath  Tamil      Kaali 1980  Kali  Tamil    Tamil–Telugu bilingual film  Mayadari Krishnudu 1980  Krishnudu  Telugu      Naan Potta Saval 1980  Ram  Tamil        Johnny 1980  Johnny,Vidyasagar  Tamil      Kaali 1980  Kaali  Telugu    Tamil–Telugu bilingual film  Ellam Un Kairasi 1980  Raja  Tamil     Polladhavan 1980  Manohar  Tamil      Murattu Kalai 1980  Kalaiyan  Tamil      Thee 1981  Rajashekar  Tamil      Kazhugu 1981  Raja  Tamil      Thillu Mullu 1981  Chandran (Indran)  Tamil      Garjanai 1981  Vijay  Tamil    Tamil–Malayalam–Kannada multilingual film  Garjanam 1981  Vijay  Malayalam    Tamil–Malayalam–Kannada multilingual film  Netrikkann 1981  Chakravarthi,Santosh  Tamil      Garjane 1981  Vijay  Kannada    Tamil–Malayalam–Kannada multilingual film  Ranuva Veeran 1981  Raghu  Tamil      Pokkiri Raja 1982  Raja,Ramesh  Tamil      Thanikattu Raja 1982  Suryaprakash  Tamil      Ranga 1982  Ranganathan  Tamil     Puthukavithai 1982  Anand  Tamil      Nandri, Meendum Varuga 1982  Himself  Tamil   Guest appearance  Enkeyo Ketta Kural 1982  Kumaran  Tamil      Moondru Mugam 1982  Alex Pandian,Arun,John  Tamil    Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize  Agni Sakshi 1982  Himself  Tamil   Guest appearance  Paayum Puli 1983  Bharani  Tamil      Uruvangal Maralam 1983  Himself (Raghavendrar)  Tamil    Guest appearance   Thudikkum Karangal 1983  Gopi  Tamil      Andha Kanoon 1983  Vijay Kumar Singh  Hindi      Thai Veedu 1983  Raju  Tamil     Sivappu Sooriyan 1983  Vijay  Tamil      Jeet Hamaari 1983  Raju  Hindi      Adutha Varisu 1983  Kannan  Tamil      Thanga Magan 1983  Arun  Tamil      Meri Adaalat 1984  Ashok  Hindi      Naan Mahan Alla 1984  Vishwanath  Tamil      Thambikku Entha Ooru 1984  Balu  Tamil      Kai Kodukkum Kai 1984  Kaalimuthu  Tamil      Ethe Naasaval 1984  Ram  Telugu      Anbulla Rajinikanth 1984  Himself  Tamil      Gangvaa 1984  Gangvaa  Hindi      Nallavanuku Nallavan 1984  Manickam  Tamil    Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil  John Jani Janardhan 1984  John A. Mendez,Janardhan B. Gupta,Jani  Hindi     Nyayam Meere Cheppalli 1985  Aathmaram  Telugu     Guest appearance  Naan Sigappu Manithan 1985  Vijay  Tamil      Mahaguru 1985  Vijay(Maha Guru)  Hindi      Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal 1985  Ravi  Tamil      Wafadaar 1985  Ranga  Hindi      Sri Raghavendra 1985  Raghavendra Swami  Tamil     Geraftaar 1985  Hussain  Hindi    Guest appearance  Yaar? 1985  Himself  Tamil    Guest appearance  Bewafai 1985  Ranvir  Hindi     Padikkadavan 1985  Rajendran  Tamil      Mr. Bharath 1986  Bharath  Tamil      Naan Adimai Illai 1986  Vijay  Tamil      Jeevana Poratam 1986  Ravi  Telugu     Viduthalai 1986  Raja  Tamil      Bhagwaan Dada 1986  Bhagwan Dada  Hindi      Kodai Mazhai 1986  Himself  Tamil     Guest appearance   Asli Naqli 1986  Birju Ustad  Hindi      Dosti Dushmani 1986  Ranjith  Hindi  Tatineni Rama Rao    Maaveeran 1986  Raja  Tamil    Also co-producer  Daku Hasina 1987  Mangal Singh  Hindi    Special appearance  Velaikaran 1987  Raghupathi  Tamil      Insaaf Kaun Karega 1987  Vikram Singh  Hindi     Oorkavalan 1987  Kangeyan  Tamil      Manithan 1987  Raja  Tamil      Manathil Uruthi Vendum 1987  Himself  Tamil    Guest appearance  Uttar Dakshin 1987  Shankar  Hindi      Tamacha 1988  Vikram Pratap Singh  Hindi      Guru Sishyan 1988  Raja (Guru)  Tamil      Dharmathin Thalaivan 1988  Balu,Shankar  Tamil      Bloodstone 1988  Shyam Sabu  English      Kodi Parakuthu 1988  Erode Shivagiri (Dada)  Tamil      Rajathi Raja 1989  Raja,Chinnarasu  Tamil     Gair Kanooni 1989  Azam Khan  Hindi    Special appearance  Siva 1989  Siva (Tiger)  Tamil     Raja Chinna Roja 1989  Raja (Kumar)  Tamil      Mappillai 1989  Aarumugam  Tamil      Bhrashtachar 1989  Abdul Sattar  Hindi    Special appearance   ChaalBaaz 1989  Jaggu  Hindi      Panakkaran 1990  Muthu  Tamil      Periya Idathu Pillai 1990  Rajinikanth  Tamil    Guest appearance  Athisaya Piravi 1990  Kaalai,Balu  Tamil      Dharma Durai 1991  Dharma Durai  Tamil      Hum 1991  Kumar Malhotra  Hindi      Farishtay 1991  Arjun Thange  Hindi      Khoon Ka Karz 1991  Kishan  Hindi      Phool Bane Angaray 1991  Ranjit Singh  Hindi      Nattukku Oru Nallavan 1991  Subhash  Tamil      Thalapathi 1991  Surya  Tamil     Mannan 1992  Krishnan  Tamil    Also playback singer  Tyagi 1992  Shankar G. "Dadhu" Dayal  Hindi      Annamalai 1992  Annamalai  Tamil     Pandiyan 1992  Pandiyan  Tamil      Insaniyat Ke Devta 1993  Anwar  Hindi      Yejaman 1993  Vaanavarayan  Tamil      Uzhaippali 1993  Thamizharasan (Thamizhazhagan)  Tamil      Valli 1993  Veeraiyan  Tamil    Cameo appearanceAlso producer and screenwriter  Veera 1994  Muthuveerappan (Veera)  Tamil      Baashha 1995  Manickam (Manick Baashha)  Tamil     Peddarayudu 1995  Paparayudu  Telugu     Guest appearance   Aatank Hi Aatank 1995  Munna  Hindi     Muthu 1995  Muthuvel,Zamindar  Tamil    Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor  Bhagya Debata 1995  Unknown  Bengali    Special appearance   Arunachalam 1997  Arunachalam,Vedachalam  Tamil     Padayappa 1999  Aarupadayappan  Tamil    Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor  Bulandi 2000  Ghajraj Thakur  Hindi    Guest appearance  Baba 2002  Baba,Mahavatar Babaji (voice only)  Tamil    Also producer and screenwriter  Chandramukhi 2005  Saravanan,Vettaiyan Raja  Tamil    Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor  Sivaji 2007  Sivaji Arumugam  Tamil    Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best ActorVijay Award for Favourite HeroNominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil  Kuselan 2008  Ashok Kumar  Tamil    Cameo appearanceTamil–Telugu bilingual film  Kathanayakudu 2008  Ashok Kumar  Telugu    Cameo appearanceTamil–Telugu bilingual film  Enthiran 2010  Vaseegaran,Chitti  Tamil    Vijay Award for Favourite HeroVijay Award for Best VillainNominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil  Ra.One 2011  Chitti  Hindi    Special appearance  Kochadaiiyaan 2014  Kochadaiiyaan,Rana,Sena  Tamil    Also playback singer  Lingaa Raja Lingeswaran,Lingeswaran (Lingaa)  Tamil  Vijay Award for Favourite Hero  Kabali 2016  Kabaleeswaran (Kabali) Tamil   Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil  Cinema Veeran 2017  Himself  Tamil  Documentary film,Narrator 2.0 2018  Dr.Vaseegaran, Chiiti, Kutty  Tamil   Kaala Karikalan  Tamil      Petta  2019Petta, KaaliTamil   Darbar  2020Aaditya Arunachalam TamilAnnaatthe2021 Kaalaiyan (Annaatthe)TamilJailer2023 "Tiger" Muthuvel PandianTamilLal Salaam2024 D. G. MoideenTamil 

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Category:Indian filmographies