- The Superstar plays suave for the first time: This is Rajnikanth’s first attempt to urbanize his personality. Off with those lungis . It’s dapper suits for the gangster’s role. Rajni’s fans can’t wait to clap and cheer at his makeover.
- Director Pa Ranjith was summoned to do a film with Rajinikanth as the mega-star wished to work with a young unconventional director.Ranjith gave Rajini two options. One was a sci-fi horror subject. The other was an epic story of a Tamil gangster in Malaysia. Rajinikanth opted for the latter. For a very long time he wanted to do a film that allowed him to play a dark character who spreads sunshine.
- This is Rajinikanth’s own Nayakan. The Mani Ratnam classic featured Rajini’s friend and rival Kamal Haasanas a Tamil migrant in Mumbai who becomes a crimelord in the adopted city. Kabali’s journey takes him from Tamil Nadu to the plantations of Malaysia.Apparently Rajini was so impressed by Kamal Haasan in Nayakan that he had asked Mani Ratnam to create a similar gangster epic for after Nayakan release. That dream project never happened for Rajinikanth. Kabali is his delayed reaction to the impact of Nayakan.
- To guide him into a new phase of his career Rajinikanth chose the young upcomingdirector Pa Ranjith whoearlirer directed the raw and gritty Madras.Rajinikanth had seen Madras and loved it. Ranjith wanted to bring out the actor in Rajinikanth like no other actor in recent times. Apparently the results are mindblowing.
- All the trademark Rajini camera tricks have been done away with. While playing a larger-than-life Tamil gangster in Malaysia Rajnith repeatedly asked Rajini to tone it down. None of that stopping in his tracks to show off. And definitely no unnecessary dialogue-baazi.
- To ensure he occupies real-time space without any obstacles Ranjith invited Radhika Apte to join the gangasKabali’s wife.Radhika with her roots in realistic acting keeps Rajinikanth’s performance toned down.
- At 30, Radhika is a more mature co-star than his last two co-star Deepika Padukone in Kochdaiiyan andSonakshi Sinha in Lingaa.And she plays no walkover in Kabali. Radika is the force behind the power source that is Rajini’s Kabali.
- The joke on the sets was, the three ‘R’ s, Rajinikanth, Radhika and Ranjith were ganging up to whip up a storm.The letter ‘R’ has always played a key role in Rajinikanth’s life. His wife Latha’s maiden name was ‘Rangachari’. And his last big hit was Robot.
- Kabaali is the first Rajnikanth starrer to be made without compromise.Rajnikanth wanted extra songs and comic elements to be added. The director Ranjith refused.
- It’s time to see Rajinikanth never seen before. His walk talk and stock are all changed.
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