Superstar Rajinikanth revealed the real story behind him opposing AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa and the aftermath of his 1995 speech during the release of his film Baasha. In a documentary honouring AIADMK veteran and MGR’s lieutenant R.M. Veerappan, popularly known as RMV, Rajinikanth shared his guilt and apology. Rajinikanth is an admirer of RMV’s humility and leadership and expressed it many times.
In 1995, during the grand celebration of 100th day of Baasha, Rajinikanth had remarked that the “bomb culture has grown in Tamil Nadu”. RMV, who was a minister in Jayalalithaa’s cabinet, was sharing the stage with Rajinikanth. His remarks came days after a bomb attack on the house of director Mani Ratnam at Venus Colony in Alwarpet.
The very next day, Jayalalithaa dropped Veerappan from her cabinet as he did not counter the actor’s remarks against the government. RMV has been Rajinikanth’s well wisher and his production house, Sathya Movies, produced Rajini’s super hit movie Baasha. In fact, when Rajini decided to take the political plunge, he called on RMV to take his blessings.
And now, years after the death of RMV, in a documentary on the AIADMK veteran, Rajini has shared his thoughts on RMV and why he opposed Jayalalithaa. In the documentary on the towering political strategist who was behind the making of brand MGR, the superstar is heard sharing his heartfelt memories about RMV’s influence in Tamil Nadu politics then, his generosity and resilience while calling him as a true king maker.
He said that he was haunted by “guilt” and that he could not sleep the night he heard the news. He immediately reached out to RMV to seek apology, when he heard the news, believing that his words had cost him his ministerial post. “He acted like nothing happened at all. That was his greatness,” Rajini said recalling his remarkable composure. It was after this that Rajinikanth began opposing Jayalalithaa.