In his speech at the launch event of ‘Dharman’, Rajinikanth recounted his decades-long friendship with Kamal Haasan, recalling several personal moments from the early days that have shaped his legacy in cinema.
Speaking emotionally about their bond, Rajinikanth stated that no description could fully encompass the relationship they share. “I have spoken a lot about my friendship with Kamal Haasan over the years, but nothing truly does justice to it,” he said. “I don’t know whether to call what he has done for me help, encouragement or cooperation.”
He went on to reveal that Kamal played a crucial role in helping him land one of his early breakthrough films, Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu (1978), which also starred Kamal in a lead role. In recalling the late 1970s, Rajinikanth claimed that he was still relatively new in the scene while Kamal was already an established star.
“Many people may not know this. I was not originally supposed to act in Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu. The role was meant for Jai Ganesh. At that time, I was busy doing Kannada and Telugu films and didn’t have dates available,” he said.
Rajinikanth noted that Kamal had personally intervened, vouching for his potential: “Kamal called the director and insisted that I be cast. Then he called me and convinced me to adjust my schedule and do the film. It happened because of him.” He went on to share an anecdote from the film’s shoot that stayed with him closely, “There’s a scene where Kamal enters, and my character calls out to him, saying ‘Inga inga…’ and reacts when he turns. When the scene was explained to me, I wondered if Kamal might misunderstand it. I asked the director, and he assured me that Kamal would take it sportingly.” After the scene was completed, he said Kamal’s reaction stayed close to him.
“He simply said, ‘Rajini, super.’ I admired the way he looked at things.”
Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan last appeared together in Thillu Mullu (1981) in Tamil and Geraftaar (1985) in Hindi. Their working collaboration goes back all the way to the 70s, when they both first worked together in Rajinikanth’s debut, Apoorva Raagangal, in 1975. A few of their other notable collaborations include Moondru Mudichu, Pathinaru Vayathinile, Aadu Puli Attam, Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu, Thappu Thalangal, Aval Appadithaan, Alavuddinum Arbutha Vilakkum, and Ninaithale Inikkum.
Source: Cinema Express
