Rajinikanth Gets Emotional at IFFI: Says He Would Choose to Be an Actor Even in 100 Lifetimes

Indian cinema’s legendary superstar Rajinikanth, who has completed 50 glorious years in the film industry, was recently honoured at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. During the closing ceremony, the 74-year-old icon was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, receiving a heartfelt standing ovation from the audience.

Visibly emotional on stage, Rajinikanth expressed deep gratitude and said,
“If I were to be born 100 times, I would still choose to be an actor — and to be Rajinikanth.”
He added that his five decades in cinema felt like only a few years because of his immense love for acting and the film world.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant honoured him with a shawl and a memento. The event also featured a special screening of Rajinikanth’s recent film “Lal Salaam”, directed by his daughter Aishwarya Rajinikanth, who was present at the screening.

A Journey From Bus Conductor to India’s Highest-Paid Actor

Rajinikanth began his film career in 1975 with “Apoorva Raagangal.” Before entering films, he worked as a bus conductor and faced significant struggles, including being removed from a project because a producer couldn’t pay his fee.

Today, he stands as one of India’s highest-paid actors, earning nearly ₹210 crore per film. He is also the only South Indian actor with two films grossing over ₹500 crore.

Rajinikanth’s remarkable journey, iconic films like Baasha, Thalapathi, Enthiran, Kabali, and Jailer, and his unmatched popularity continue to make him a true “Thalaiva” of Indian cinema.