Rajinikanth Turns 75: Name Origin & Latest Film Slate

• Rajinikanth celebrates his 75th birthday on December 12, marking over five decades and 160+ films in Indian cinema.
• His stage name 'Rajinikanth' was given by filmmaker K. Balachander, inspired by a character from 'Major Chandrakanth', to avoid confusion with Sivaji Ganesan.
• His 2024 film 'Vettaiyan' grossed over Rs 250 Crore worldwide and featured Amitabh Bachchan's Tamil debut.
• He recently starred in Lokesh Kanagaraj's action thriller 'Coolie'.
• Upcoming projects include 'Jailer 2' (sequel to 2023's 'Jailer', releasing June 12, 2026) and 'Thalaivar 173' (tentative title, 2027 release, produced by Kamal Haasan).

Why It Matters: Rajinikanth's 75th birthday underscores his lasting cultural impact and active film career.