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Super star Rajinikanth, even in his 70s, continues to play the role of an action hero in his films. It is no secret that he had a humble upbringing, as he has often spoken about his earlier days as a bus conductor. During a recent promotional event for his upcoming film Coolie, he spoke about his life as a coolie even before becoming a bus conductor, and why the film holds a special place in his heart. He also shared his experiences from those days, including details about the wages he earned. Coolie is set to release in theatres on 14 August 2025.
How did Rajinikanth Become a Coolie in Real Life?
He mentioned that he once stole INR 120 from his family and went to Chennai, hoping to make a living. However, he wasn’t successful. He also revealed that he did not want to be an actor at the time. He just wanted to work in the film industry in any capacity. When he ran out of money, he returned home. That’s when his father told him to work as a coolie, and since he had no other choice, he accepted.
What was Rajinikanth’s Wage Back Then?
His job involved unloading bags of rice, each weighing around 100 kg. For unloading 100 such bags (one full load), they would earn INR 10 in total, which would then be split among five workers, meaning INR 2 per person. If they also weighed the load and loaded it, they would be paid 50 paise. Transporting it to a nearby store, located about 500 to 600 metres away, earned them INR 5.
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