Rajinikanth to get ‘Icon of Golden Jubilee’ award at IFFI 2019

New Delhi: The Government of India has announced that a special award titled ‘Icon of Golden Jubilee’ will be conferred to eminent film personality S Rajnikanth.

“In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, during the past several decades, I am happy to announce that the award for the ‘Icon of the Golden Jubilee of IFFI 2019 is being conferred on cine star S RajiniKanth”, Union Information & Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar announced.

The actor-turned-politician Rajnikanth was born on December 12, 1950, in a Marathi-speaking family of Karnataka. His original name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad. Before he got a start in films, he did odd jobs to make a living. He worked as a bus conductor for Karnataka State Transport Corporation in Bangalore. It was during this period that he nurtured his love for acting by performing in plays.

The phenomenally popular Rajinikanth got his first break in the movies when he played a small role in the Kannada film Katha Sangama, directed by Puttanna Kanagal. He then played a cancer patient in the Tamil film Apoorva Raagangal (1975), directed by K. Balachander. The lead actor of the film was Kamal Hassan, who became one of his closest friends. He was noticed by the industry and public alike, and he never looked back.

Mr Rajnikanth was also honoured with the Padma Bhushan (2000) and the Padma Vibhushan (2016). At the 45th International Film Festival of India (2014), he was conferred with the “Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year”. (UNI)