Early Life

Rajinikanth was born in a Marathi family in Karnataka, India. He was the fourth child to his parents, Jija bai and Ramoji Rao. His original name was Sivaji Rao Gaekwad. He lost his mother at the age of five. He had his schooling at the Acharya Patasala in Bengalooru (formerly Bangalore) and then at the Vivekananda Balak Sangh, a unit of the Ramakrishna Mission. His mother tongue is Marathi, although he has not acted in a Marathi film yet.

He began his career doing various jobs in Karnataka, while also attending a theatre for stage plays. Before starting his career in the film industry, he served as a bus conductor for the state transport corporation in Bangalore. It was during this time that he nurtured his acting interests by performing in various stage plays.