Radhika Apte and other heroines who got to romance Superstar Rajinikanth

Manjhi actress Radhika Apte has been signed for Rajinikanth’s next film, we hear, and she’s come up with the predictable response: that there’s no bigger star than the Superstar and she’s really excited.

While the pairing of the 29-year-old actress with the 64-year-old Rajini may appear incongruous to some, it is also about the Kollywood icon’s timeless appeal. In fact, in the recent past he’s been frequently paired with actresses who are far, far younger than him.

Before directors started looking to Bollywood for Rajini heroines, the top line actresses of the South were cast opposite him. Here’s a line-up of actresses who acquired a greater sheen, thanks to romancing the Superstar on screen:

Sonakshi Sinha

It was an unlikely pairing, the Lootera actress and the Kollywood hero coming together for Lingaa. Sonakshi Sinha didn’t have much to do in the film, but that doesn’t take away from her now wearing the ‘Rajini heroine’ tag.

Anushka Shetty

Anushka Shetty is an in-demand star, in-demand actress in Tamil and Telugu cinema. She was the second heroine in Lingaa, romancing Rajini and gyrating to some hot numbers as well. The role certainly sent her soaring higher in the ranking scale.

Deepika Padukone

Bollywood A-lister Deepika Padukone starred, in an animated version, as Rajini’s leading lady, in last year’s Kochadaiyaan. She played the love interest of the younger Rajini character in the film that was made using motion capturing technology.

Aishwarya Rai

Big budgets and even bigger names are Shankar’s style. So, he signed Aishwarya Rai to play Rajini’s heroine in the mega-budget Endhiran. Ash romanced two Rajinis – that of a robotics scientist and a robot which he creates – in the film that was an extravagant production and a mega-hit.

Shriya Saran

Playing Rajini’s heroine in Sivaji, The Boss, was a super break for Shriya Saran. She went from glam babe in funky wigs to traditional Tamil girl in this over-the-top entertainer that went on to become a blockbuster.

Nayanthara

Nayanthara, then ruling Kollywood, was cast as Rajini’s romantic interest in the runaway hit Chandramukhi in 2006. Later, she made a cameo appearance in the Rajini-starrer Kuselan.

Manisha Koirala

Baba was billed as Rajini’s comeback film, after a long hiatus. It was Manisha Koirala who featured as his heroine in the film that didn’t quite shake up the box-office.

Shobana

Shobana and Rajini exuded great on-screen chemistry In Mani Ratnam’s Thalapathi, playing a pair of lovers who are destined to be parted.  The dancer-actress also worked with Rajini in the 1989 film Siva.

Gouthami

Kamal Haasan’s partner has teamed up in several films with his contemporary and friend Rajini. The Rajini-Gouthami pairing worked well in films like Raja Chinna Roja, Dharma Durai and Panakkaran.

Amala

The actress with her elfin charm and a young and handsome Rajinikanth made one of the best Kollywood pairs of all time. They wowed audiences in films such as Bharathiraja’s Kodi Parakkuthu, Maappillai and Velaikkaran.

Suhasini

Suhasini and Rajini starred together in Dharmathin Thalaivan, he playing a college professor and she, his partner, who continues to mourn him long after his death.

Kushboo

Kushboo was one of the leading Kollywood stars of the ‘90s and her first Rajini film was Dharmathin Thalaivan, in which she was Prabhu’s love interest. Rajini and Kushboo then played on-screen couples in films like Annamalai, displaying their flair for comedy in the film.

Meena

Meena was Rajini’s heroine in some of his biggest box-office successes. They romanced each other in films like Veera, Yejaman, and Muthu, which won over Japanese audiences.

Sripriya

Sripriya was Rajini’s heroine in the superhit Billa. She did lots of other films with the star, including Thai Mel Sathyam, Annai oru Aalayam, Thanikatturaja and Kaali. In the critically acclaimed Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu, she was paired with Kamal Haasan, but featured in some key scenes with Rajini.

Radhika

The actress who now rules over the small screen, first featured in the Rajini-starrer Pokkiriraja. Radhika was Rajini’s leading lady in Ranga and Moonru Mugham. They looked especially good together in Nallavanukku Nallavan.

Sridevi

Sridevi’s early films in Tamil were also the ones in which Rajini was beginning to make an impression. He played the rustic villager who lusts after Mayil, Sridevi’s character, in the classic 16 Vayathinile. In the intense drama, Moondru Mudichu, Sridevi exacts revenge on Rajini – who stages the murder of her lover – by becoming his stepmother. In later films like Dharma Yuddham and Adutha Varisu, they made a fetching couple. Johnny is possibly their best film together, still loved for its beautiful songs.

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10 South Indian superstars who could take Bollywood by storm