‘He encouraged me to join cinema’: When Rajinikanth’s best friend Raj Bahadur inspired him to pursue career in movies – THROWBACK

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'He encouraged me to join cinema': When Rajinikanth's best friend Raj Bahadur inspired him to pursue career in movies - THROWBACK

As someone who has been fortunate enough to witness the extraordinary journey of Rajinikanth, I can confidently say that his friendship with Raj Bahadur is not just a bond, but a testament to the power of encouragement and faith in one’s dreams. Their story is a beautiful example of how a simple bus ride could transform into a life-altering encounter.

Rajinikanth and Raj Bahadur’s friendship dates back quite a long time. They were friends even before Rajinikanth became an actor. In fact, they first met while working together in a transport service, with Rajinikanth as the conductor and Raj Bahadur as the driver. It was actually Raj who encouraged Rajinikanth to chase his dreams and become an actor.

In days long past, during the time when Rajinikanth received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, he graciously dedicated it to his esteemed mentor and teacher, K Balachander sir. Moreover, he expressed gratitude towards his friend and collaborator, Raj Bahadur, who, while operating a bus transport service, recognized my latent acting talent and motivated me to venture into the world of cinema.

Immediately following Rajinikanth’s receipt of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Raj Bahadur prepared to catch up with his cherished friend to offer his congratulations. In an interview with the press, he expressed feelings of awe when Thalaivar mentioned his name during his acceptance speech.

Raj Bahadur praised his humility by saying, “He always remembers his friends since they were the ones who inspired him. No matter where his family takes him, he always finds time to catch up with his friends when he’s in Bangalore.

As a loyal companion, I had the privilege of being the bus driver during the time when my esteemed colleague, Rajinikanth, served as the conductor. On certain occasions, he would entertain us by flipping coins while handing out change. It was my trusted friend who swiftly recognized his hidden acting talent.

During the 1970s, it was during employee association events that Rajinikanth first started appearing as the main lead in dramas. At first, he was reluctant about acting, but Raj Bahadur encouraged him to follow his passion. In fact, Raj Bahadur went so far as to aid Rajinikanth in enrolling at Madras Film Institute for acting training.

Previously, Rajinikanth mentioned that during a time when he resided in Chennai, Raj Bahadur would regularly transfer half of his own earnings to assist Rajinikanth with paying for school fees and essential expenses.

In spite of this, they’ve been close friends for decades and have a relationship spanning nearly half a century.

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2024-09-19 05:37