A chapter on Rajni in CBSE textbook

A chapter on Rajnikant's life has been added to Std VI English course book of CBSE. The book has been published by Oxford University Press. The chapter is under the section: Dignity of Work.

His life from a bus conductor to a megastar has been briefly described in the chapter. The book also includes excerpts from his friend Bahadur, who was a bus driver. In 1970s Rajni, a bus conductor, and Bahadur, a bus driver, were good friends.

The friendship was cemented further, when the two would unwind themselves by watching films and plays together during their off-duty hours. Young Shivaji aka Rajni would sometimes also act in plays staged at the Gubbi Veeranna Ranga Mandira in the city. When Bahadur saw his friend on stage, he realised that the young man has great acting potential. The overwhelming response from the audience, particularly, when he played Duryodhana and Yechhama Nayaka, the Kannada Warrior, strengthen his belief. "It was then that I was convinced that he should act in movies," Bahadur said.

When the Adyar Film Institute was set up in Chennai around the same time, Bahadur suggested to Shivaji aka Rajni that he should pursue a course in acting at the Institute. The young man was obviously reluctant to give up his conductor's job and do the course since he was worried about his finances.

Who will ever give up a government job? Rajni has asked. And Bahadur responded, "Give up the job. I'll look after all your needs." Bahadur kept up his promise. For two years, from 1974 to 1976, he gave a significant part of his salary to Shivaji and ensured that he completed the course at the Film Institute. When the course was over, the famous director K. Balachander, signed up the young actor for his new Tamil film. And the rest is history.

Rajni's real journey from a bus conductor to the highest-paid actor of the country resembles a story of a successful film. Rajni's life had many twists and turns but never downs.
His recent super-hit movie 'Sivaji' has catapulted him from the status of megastar to demy god and also paved way for his pan-India fame.

In the beginning of this year, he received NDTV's Best Indian of the Year Award for 2007 from the prime minister and then his biography 'My Name Is Rajnikanth' hit the market and now it's a chapter on him in text books. Year 2008 has given him more reasons to cheer!