From Announcing His Political Entry to Making Controversial Remarks on Periyar's Rally — 5 Times Rajinikanth Made Headlines in 2020

On superstar Rajinikanth 70th birthday, let's take a look at the times "Thalaiva" made the headlines and took over the internet this year.

1. Announcing his political party: With Tamil Nadu Assembly elections around the corner, on December 3, Rajinikanth tweeted his decision to launch a political party. At a press conference at his Poes Garden home, the 70-year-old actor-turned-politician vowed to change the fate of Tamil Nadu and stated that the state will witness a "spiritual governance".

2. Remark on Periyar rally: During the 50th anniversary of the Tamil magazine "Thuglak", Rajinikanth commented against a rally conducted by social reformist Periyar in 1971. He stated that naked idols of Lord Rama and Sita were displayed in the rally led by Periyar in Salem, Tamil Nadu. His statement drew flak from politicians and the public and a case was filed against him. An open apology was also demanded of him.  Rajinikanth, however, refused to budge and claimed that his statements were not baseless and that he would not apologise for speaking the truth.

3. Raghavendra Marriage Hall’s income tax: On October 14, Rajinikanth faced the wrath of the Madras High Court after he appealed to waive off the  ₹6.50 lakh income tax for his Raghavendra Marriage Hall in Kodambakkam. He stated that the hall did not function during the lockdown and hence, there was no income from the marriage hall to pay the income tax. Later, Rajinikanth took to Twitter and acknowledged that he should have approached the city corporation instead of rushing to court.

4. Comments against Saathankulam: On July 1, Rajinikanth expressed shock at the way the Sathankulam police officials behaved with a magistrate who had gone to the police station to inquire into custodial deaths and said the concerned officials should be punished. He said he was shocked to hear of the manner in which the police officers behaved in front of the magistrate inside the Sathankulam police station even as there was widespread condemnation of the brutal torture and death of the Thoothukodi father-son.

5. Lamborghini drive during lockdown: In July again — when lockdown was in place— a photo of Rajinikanth surfaced online, where he was seen driving a Lamborghini, wearing a facemask. The photo went viral on social media and received both appreciation and flak. People questioned how he was allowed to travel out of the city when the whole country was in a lockdown for the Covid-19 pandemic.