Rajinikanth: Complete Career and Movies List (2026)
Rajinikanth has appeared in roughly 170 films since 1975, and tracking his career chronologically is harder than it sounds because he often released a dozen or more movies in a single year during the 1970s. This guide organizes his entire filmography by era, explains how he became “Superstar,” and lists every confirmed and rumored 2026–2027 project — including Jailer 2 and the long-awaited reunion with Kamal Haasan.
Who Is Rajinikanth?
Rajinikanth, born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad on December 12, 1950, in Bangalore, is widely regarded as the most commercially powerful actor in Tamil cinema history. He worked as a bus conductor in Bangalore before training at the Madras Film Institute and entering the industry in the mid-1970s. Over five decades, he built a career defined by stylized mannerisms, mass-audience loyalty, and a string of box-office records that few Indian actors have matched.
He primarily works in Tamil cinema but has also starred in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam films. His career spans more than five decades and includes films across Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam cinema. That range is part of why his fan base extends well beyond South India, into Japan and parts of the Indian diaspora worldwide.
How Did Rajinikanth’s Career Begin?
Rajinikanth debuted in 1975 with a small antagonistic role in K. Balachander’s Tamil drama “Apoorva Raagangal,” a film that explored relationships across wide age gaps and went on to win three National Film Awards. Balachander, who became his mentor, gave him the stage name Rajinikanth and pushed him toward unconventional roles early on.
His next major appearance came in the Kannada anthology film “Katha Sangama” (1976), where he played a village ruffian. For the rest of the 1970s, he was typecast as a villain or morally grey character — a deliberate strategy that let him build range before stepping into hero roles.
By 1977, he had landed his first lead role in the Telugu film “Chilakamma Cheppindi,” followed by “Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri,” which began a long, successful partnership with director S.P. Muthuraman. In 1978, Rajinikanth had 20 films released across Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada cinema, an output pace that’s almost unheard of today and one that eventually led to physical exhaustion.
That 1978 workload deserves context. He was often dubbing his own lines on one set in the morning and shooting action sequences on another set by afternoon, sometimes juggling three or four productions in parallel. Reports from the period describe the pace catching up with him in the form of a nervous breakdown brought on by sheer exhaustion, which forced a brief slowdown before he resumed at a slightly more sustainable schedule. It’s a detail that’s easy to skip over, but it explains why directors and producers later treated his time with the kind of scheduling deference few actors anywhere receive.
His on-screen partnership with Kamal Haasan also began in this stretch, though the two were rarely cast as equals. In films like “Moondru Mudichu” (1976), Haasan played the protagonist while Rajinikanth took the antagonist’s role — a dynamic that makes their upcoming 2026–27 reunion feel especially significant, since audiences haven’t seen them share a frame as co-leads in roughly four decades.
Table: Rajinikanth’s Early Career Milestones (1975–1980)
| Year | Milestone | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Apoorva Raagangal | Film debut, antagonist role |
| 1976 | Katha Sangama | First Kannada-language role |
| 1977 | Chilakamma Cheppindi | First lead role (Telugu) |
| 1978 | 20+ releases in one year | Peak workload, near-collapse |
| 1978 | Bairavi | First solo Tamil hero film |
| 1980 | Billa | Cemented his action-hero image |
What Made Him “Superstar” Rajinikanth?
The nickname “Superstar” stuck after “Bairavi” (1978), his first Tamil film where he was the sole lead, and it was reinforced two years later by “Billa,” a remake of the Hindi film “Don.” Billa gave him a stylized, larger-than-life screen persona — sharp suits, confident swagger, and a delivery style audiences hadn’t seen from a South Indian hero before.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, he built on that image with hits like “Murattu Kaalai,” “Thalapathi” (1991), and “Baasha” (1995) — the last of which is still considered one of his most iconic roles for its slow-build reveal of a reformed gangster. His signature mannerisms, especially the cigarette flip-and-catch and rapid-fire dialogue delivery, became cultural shorthand for his entire persona rather than just a single film’s gimmick.
“Padayappa” (1999) closed out the decade as another major commercial success, and it’s often cited as the film that proved his pull hadn’t faded even after two decades in the industry.
What Are Rajinikanth’s Biggest Box-Office Hits?
His most commercially dominant period started with “Chandramukhi” (2005) and “Sivaji” (2007), the latter becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of its era, before he moved into big-budget science fiction with “Enthiran” (2010) and its sequel “2.0” (2018). “Enthiran,” known internationally as “Robot,” paired him with director Shankar and remains his highest-rated film on aggregator sites, while “2.0” became one of the most expensive Indian films ever made at the time of release.
After a quieter stretch with “Kabali” (2016), “Kaala” (2018), and “Petta” (2019), his commercial momentum returned sharply with “Jailer” (2023), directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. Jailer’s success reset expectations for what a Rajinikanth film could earn in a single opening weekend and directly led to the now-in-production sequel. “Coolie” (2025), directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, extended that comeback further, reportedly crossing ₹500 crore worldwide and reinforcing that his pull at the box office hasn’t diminished even as he approaches his mid-seventies.
It’s worth noting that not every comeback-era film matched Jailer’s numbers. “Lal Salaam” (2024) and “Annaatthe” (2021) received a noticeably cooler critical reception, with “Lal Salaam” landing among his lower-rated films on aggregator sites. The pattern that emerges across his last decade is consistent: action-heavy, director-driven projects with strong supporting casts tend to outperform smaller, more sentimental dramas — a lesson that seems to be shaping how his upcoming slate is being packaged.
Table: Rajinikanth’s Highest-Profile Box-Office Eras
| Era | Key Films | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|
| 2005–2010 | Chandramukhi, Sivaji, Enthiran | Established him as a 100-crore-club regular |
| 2016–2019 | Kabali, Kaala, Petta | Mixed reception but strong opening numbers |
| 2020–2021 | Darbar, Annaatthe | Pandemic-era releases, modest returns |
| 2023–2025 | Jailer, Vettaiyan, Coolie | Box-office comeback, renewed industry buzz |
What Is Rajinikanth’s Complete Movies List by Decade?
Here’s a decade-by-decade breakdown of his most notable releases, since listing all 170 films individually would make this guide unreadable.
1970s (debut and villain phase): Apoorva Raagangal (1975), Katha Sangama (1976), Moondru Mudichu (1976), Avargal (1977), Bairavi (1978), Mullum Malarum (1978), 16 Vayathinile (1977). This stretch is mostly defined by supporting and antagonist roles, but “Bairavi” stands out as the turning point where he carried a film alone for the first time.
1980s (rise of the action hero): Billa (1980), Thillu Mullu (1981), Murattu Kaalai (1980), Moondru Mugam (1982), Andha Kanoon (1983, his Bollywood debut alongside Amitabh Bachchan), Thalapathi (1991). This decade is when the action-hero template — sharp dialogue, stylized entrances, populist heroism — became his permanent brand across South Indian cinema.
1990s (peak commercial dominance): Baasha (1995), Muthu (1995), Padayappa (1999). “Baasha” in particular is frequently cited by Tamil film critics as a structural blueprint other mass-hero films copied for years afterward, thanks to its slow reveal of the lead character’s gangster past.
2000s (return after a brief slowdown): Chandramukhi (2005), Sivaji: The Boss (2007). Both films marked a deliberate shift toward bigger production budgets and visual spectacle, setting up the science-fiction era that followed.
2010s (big-budget science fiction): Enthiran/Robot (2010), Kochadaiiyaan (2014), Lingaa (2014), Kabali (2016), Kaala (2018), 2.0 (2018), Petta (2019). This was the most experimental decade of his career, mixing motion-capture animation, gangster drama, and politically charged storytelling.
2020s (comeback era): Darbar (2020), Annaatthe (2021), Jailer (2023), Lal Salaam (2024), Vettaiyan (2024), Coolie (2025), Deva music-video appearance “Chikitu” (2025). The throughline here is a deliberate return to director-driven action thrillers after a string of more uneven dramas.
What Are Rajinikanth’s Upcoming Movies in 2026 and 2027?
Rajinikanth currently has four confirmed or reported projects: “Jailer 2” (filming, expected 2026), the Hindi film “Hum Mein Shahenshah Koun” (completed, 2026), an untitled film tentatively called “Thalaivar 173” (pre-production, targeting 2027), and a historic reunion with Kamal Haasan known informally as “KH x RK.” Director Nelson Dilipkumar and composer Anirudh Ravichander, the team behind Jailer’s success, are both returning for the sequel.
The Kamal Haasan reunion is the bigger industry story. Red Giant Movies is producing a new feature reuniting Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, with Nelson Dilipkumar directing. The two actors haven’t shared a Tamil screen together since the late 1970s and early 1980s, when they appeared in classics like Apoorva Raagangal and Moondru Mudichu, so this project carries unusually heavy nostalgic weight for longtime fans of Tamil cinema.
There are also unconfirmed reports of an Atlee-Salman Khan crossover project and a possible Sajid Nadiadwala collaboration, though neither has moved past early discussion stages as of mid-2026.
Table: Rajinikanth’s Upcoming Projects (2026–2027)
| Project | Status | Expected Year | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jailer 2 | Filming | 2026 | Nelson Dilipkumar |
| Hum Mein Shahenshah Koun | Completed | 2026 | Vijay Singh |
| Thalaivar 173 (working title) | Pre-production | 2027 | TBA |
| KH x RK Reunion | Pre-production | TBA | Nelson Dilipkumar |
What Awards Has Rajinikanth Won?
Rajinikanth holds India’s third- and second-highest civilian honors — the Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2016) — along with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest cinema honor, conferred at the 67th National Film Awards. The government honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016, and he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019 as the highest Indian award in cinema.
He has also won multiple Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Actor, the Kalaimamani award, the Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award, and was named NDTV’s Indian Entertainer of the Decade. In 2025, he reportedly received the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Film Festival of India, recognizing his broader contribution to world cinema rather than a single performance.
What Is Rajinikanth’s Life Like Off-Screen?
Rajinikanth married Latha Rangachari on February 26, 1981, after she interviewed him for her college magazine, and the couple has two daughters, including filmmaker Aishwarya Rajinikanth. Despite his on-screen larger-than-life persona, he’s known among industry insiders for a comparatively private, disciplined personal routine, including long stretches of spiritual retreat between projects.
He briefly entered active political discourse in 2017 by launching a political party, though he stepped back from electoral politics by early 2021, citing health concerns. That episode is often cited in Indian media as proof of how far his cultural influence extends beyond cinema — few actors anywhere could credibly consider a political career purely on the strength of fan loyalty built over decades of film roles.
His net worth, driven by film fees, brand endorsements, and production interests, is widely estimated in the ₹400–500 crore range, though exact figures vary by source and aren’t independently verified. What’s less disputed is his continued relevance: at an age when most actors of his generation have either retired or shifted to character roles, Rajinikanth remains the lead in big-budget action films with mainstream commercial expectations attached.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions About Rajinikanth’s Career
The most common error is assuming his “Superstar” title came with his debut film — it actually took three years and several villain roles before “Bairavi” and “Billa” established that persona. Another frequent mix-up is treating his Bollywood work as a parallel career; in reality, his Hindi films (like “Andha Kanoon” and “Hum Se Hai Muqabla”) were occasional side projects rather than a sustained second filmography.
People also confuse his birth name. He was born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad and is of Marathi heritage, despite building his entire career in Tamil cinema — a detail that surprises many fans outside South India. Finally, his film count is often rounded incorrectly; most authoritative sources, including Wikipedia, place the total around 170 films, not the inflated 180+ figures that circulate on fan forums.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rajinikanth’s real name? His birth name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad. He adopted the stage name “Rajinikanth” at the suggestion of his mentor, director K. Balachander, before his 1975 film debut in “Apoorva Raagangal.”
How many movies has Rajinikanth acted in? He has appeared in approximately 170 films across Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam cinema since his 1975 debut, spanning more than five decades of continuous work.
What was Rajinikanth’s first movie? His first film was “Apoorva Raagangal” (1975), directed by K. Balachander, in which he played a small antagonistic role as an older husband in a controversial age-gap relationship drama.
Is Jailer 2 confirmed? Yes. Jailer 2 is in active filming as of 2026, with director Nelson Dilipkumar and composer Anirudh Ravichander both returning from the original 2023 film, and a 2026 release window is widely expected.
Will Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan work together again? Yes. Red Giant Movies has confirmed a new feature film reuniting the two actors, currently referred to as “KH x RK,” directed by Nelson Dilipkumar with music by Anirudh Ravichander — their first proper Tamil reunion since the early 1980s.
What awards has Rajinikanth received from the Indian government? He has received the Padma Bhushan (2000), the Padma Vibhushan (2016), and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honor in cinema, presented to him at the 67th National Film Awards ceremony.
Why is Rajinikanth called “Superstar”? The title emerged after “Bairavi” (1978), his first Tamil film as the sole lead, and was reinforced by “Billa” (1980), which established the stylish, larger-than-life screen persona he’s known for today.
Is Rajinikanth retiring soon? There’s no official retirement announcement. With Jailer 2, an untitled 2027 project, and the Kamal Haasan reunion all in active development as of mid-2026, he appears to be working at a steady, if reduced, pace rather than winding down.
What is Rajinikanth’s highest-rated movie? “Enthiran” (2010), released internationally as “Robot,” holds his highest aggregate critic score on major review sites, largely credited to director Shankar’s ambitious visual effects work and a dual-role performance from Rajinikanth.
Final Word: Tracking a Five-Decade Career
Rajinikanth’s filmography isn’t easy to summarize because it covers six languages, multiple industry eras, and a workload pace that no current actor comes close to matching. From villain roles in the late 1970s to a genuine box-office resurgence with “Jailer” and “Coolie,” his career has rarely had a true off period.
If you’re following his upcoming work, “Jailer 2” and the Kamal Haasan reunion are the two projects worth watching most closely through 2026 and 2027. Bookmark this page — we’ll update the release dates and film list as official confirmations come in.
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