Quick Take: Rajini should not be defined by the politics that he didn’t pursue | Tamil Movie News

A Rajinikanth public appearance now comes with the inevitable question about Vijay or politics.

There was something unmistakably different about Rajinikanth at the launch of Dharman . The swagger was still there, but the Superstar seemed preoccupied. Even his trademark selfdeprecating humour seemed missing in his speech. In fact, he opened with a statement that hinted at weariness: “If I speak, it becomes an issue. If I don’t, that becomes an issue too.”This didn’t escape people’s attention. On social media, some concluded Vijay’s ascent to Fort St George was still weighing on his mind. Others saw a man regretting not taking up the political opportunities that fell in his lap in 1996, the early 2000s and even 2021.Whether any of that is true is almost beside the point. Every Rajinikanth appearance today is viewed through the prism of the political career he never had rather than the flourishing cinematic one he continues to have.Maybe it’s time to retire that script. A Rajinikanth public appearance now comes with the inevitable question about Vijay or politics. It produces viral clips, but rarely fresh answers. The Superstar has repeatedly said he doesn’t see Vijay as a competitor. Yet everyone seems determined to make him say otherwise.In a way, his situation is similar to that of the print media.Social media may own the moment today, setting trends and fuelling outrage (but hardly discussions), but print still commands trust. The Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2026 found legacy news brands continue to enjoy high credibility in India, with The Times Of India topping the list. And a 2025 report by Excellent Publicity in collaboration with TAM Media Research, TAM AdEx, and RCS India found that print advertising in India recorded a 26% growth in ad spend in the first half of the year.Like newspapers surviving by understanding what only they can offer and adapting without trying to become social media, Rajinikanth has spent 50 years reinventing himself. He is still THE Superstar.

An airport byte becomes breaking news. A meeting with a politician becomes prime-time fodder. His speeches are analysed endlessly. Even his silence sells. And producers know it, which is why they still queue up for his dates. Audiences know it, too. Even Coolie , despite mixed reviews, pulled crowds and delivered box-office numbers that most A-list stars can only dream of.Nor has Rajinikanth stopped being politically relevant. A courtesy call with a politician or even a passing remark outside Poes Garden is enough to set the media buzzing. Ironically, while he never became the political leader many expected, for fans and the public, he has never stopped being Thalaivar.So, perhaps it’s finally time to stop asking him about the road he didn’t take and allow him to enjoy the one he continues to travel on. After 50 years of entertaining us, he has earned at least that much.