India’s biggest superstar Rajnikanth, whose name echoes beyond generations, may soon be bidding farewell to the industry. From flicking his sunglasses to lighting a cigarette, his actions remain unmatched and which is why even after 40 years, his fan following is still growing across generations.
On one hand, he is actively dropping hit movies like Jailer at the age of 75, but on the other hand, the rumours of his retirement are taking over the news headlines. Here’s a breakdown of why the chatter around his retirement started and how far the rumours are true.
How did the rumour start?
The rumour of his retirement didn’t suddenly appear, but has been going on since 2023. The trigger happened in May 2023, when filmmaker Mysskin said in an interview that Rajnikanth’s 171st film with director Lokesh Kanagaraj may be his last movie. However, later he said that he wasn’t 100% sure about it, but the news had already blown up.
Since then, the media outlets picked it up as an announcement of his retirement, and the gossip around him stepping down from the cinema industry makes headlines every now and then. But there have been no official announcements or any kind of conversation clearing this confusion yet. So, the fans keep dismissing these rumours.
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What are the possibilities of the rumours being true?
The answer to this question is very complicated. However, there are certain facts that make sense around his retirement news. Although Rajnikanth continues to dominate the box office for decades, his recent movie ‘Coolie’ didn’t match the hype set by Thalaivar. The backlash was strong, and fans were disappointed by the action scenes. Speculations were made that Rajnikanth relied on a body double for major action scenes.
These criticisms are hampering the ‘action-image’ of the star, reigniting the old whispers of his retirement. The fans agreeing upon this have commented, ‘Let him rest now. We don’t want him to be trolled like this.’
Rajnikanth has reached his late 70s now, and although his screen presence makes him look all fit and bold, he has shown a shift to his heavy stunt roles. For example, in Jailer, he played the role of a retired police officer, and reportedly, in Vettaiyan, he will play a mature role again. These changes are a major hint that he is now gradually stepping away from his ‘mass hero’ roles.
While Rajnikanth is tied up with major upcoming projects, these new waves of projects look more like a farewell phase. Vettaiyan (Thalaivar 170) and the upcoming film with Lokesh Kanagaraj (Thalaivar 171), the collaboration with Sajid Nadiawala, and the RKFI project with director Sunder C, have started to sound like event films rather than routine career moves. This chapter feels more like the closing chapter of his long-celebrated journey in the industry.
The rumoured reunion with Kamal Hassan is bringing the fans into a nostalgic circle moment. We all know how they both began their career together in Apoorva Raagangal (1975), and their reunion after 50 years is signalling a final bow competing his cinematic journey.
Despite the ongoing rumors, Rajnikanth’s silence speaks it all. He is unbothered, and so are his fans. There have been no comments on his ‘retirement’ from his side.
There are hundreds of posts shutting down his retirement rumors, while others have taken an interest in this topic. Platform X is buzzing with debates over the news, starting a fan war between Vijay fans and Rajnikanth’s fans. A fan tweeted, “Vijay fans started #Rajnikanth’s retirement rumours, none of Rajni Fans says he is going to retire.”
Whether Vettaiyan turns out to be his last or not, one thing remains certain: there will never be another Rajinikanth. If he does decide to call it a wrap, it won’t be the end of his story, but the beginning of his legend.
Written by: Supriya