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Rajinikanth is known for his screen presence and decades-long career in Indian cinema. But before becoming one of Tamil cinemaโs biggest stars, he was a school topper who struggled when the language of instruction changed.
Born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, Rajinikanth completed primary education at Gavipuram Government Kannada Model Primary School before studying at Acharya Pathasala. He entered APS College but dropped out after the first year. He later enrolled at the Madras Film Institute for a diploma in acting.
In a video message shared with his school, Acharya Pathasala (APS) Public School and College in Bengaluru, in January 2025, he recalled scoring 98% in middle school. The achievement prompted his elder brother to enrol him at APS, an English-medium institution. What followed was a difficult adjustment, he said.
โI initially studied at a government primary and middle school in Kannada medium, where I was a bright student. I graduated middle school with 98%,โ Rajinikanth said in the video message to his school.
The video came after he couldn't attend the school alumni meet held on January 26, 2025, as he was in Bangkok shooting for a film. He participated in the event virtually by sending a video message.
Moving to English-medium classes changed his experience of school. โFrom being a front-bench student in Kannada medium, I became a back-bencher in English medium.โ Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics became difficult because he struggled to follow lessons in English. He said the change left him feeling depressed.
Strong marks helped him enter a new school, but the language switch made it harder to keep up.
Rajinikanth credited his APS teachers with helping him through the transition. He said, 'With the support of my teachers, I was able to overcome these challenges and adjust to studying in English medium," adding that despite scoring low marks, he managed to secure admission to APS College.
"However, I dropped out after completing my first year. I would often enact scenes from movies in class, and when my teachers noticed this, they encouraged me to take part in dramas. This eventually laid the foundation for my acting career," he added.
He later recalled winning his first Best Actor award for playing a Chandala in an inter-school drama competition.
He took up several odd jobs before joining the Bangalore Transport Service as a bus conductor. He later enrolled at the Madras Film Institute to pursue a diploma in acting, with support from his friend and fellow conductor Raj Bahadur.
Director K Balachander noticed his talent during a stage performance and gave him his film debut in Apoorva Raagangal in 1975. Since then, the actor has appeared in more than 200 films and received the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016 for his contribution to Indian cinema.
His school years did not follow a smooth academic path. Teachers helped him navigate a difficult transition and recognise a talent that grades alone could not measure. The student who struggled to follow lessons in English would go on to build a career that made him a household name.
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