Rajinikanth's 'Baasha': The Film He Almost Rejected That Made Him a 'God'

• Rajinikanth initially hesitated to star in the 1995 gangster drama 'Baasha', fearing it might tarnish his image after the success of 'Annamalai'.
• Director Suresh Krissna revealed Rajinikanth was uncomfortable moving from his 'common man' image to playing a 'don'.
• To manage expectations, 'Veera' was released between 'Annamalai' and 'Baasha' to allow audiences to forget 'Annamalai'.
• 'Baasha' ran for 15 months in theaters, transforming Rajinikanth from a superstar into the 'God' of South Indian cinema.
• The film's 'double life' concept of auto driver Manikam and gangster Manik Baasha set a blueprint for future films and became a cult classic.