When Kamal Haasan recalled how his ‘emotions turned to affection’ for Rajinikanth on their first-ever meeting

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Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth are undeniably two of the most significant figures in Tamil cinema. Despite being part of the same industry, they have consistently maintained a close friendship and mutual support for each other. Interestingly, their first encounter brought to mind someone special for Rajinikanth beforehand.

During an interview with India Today in the past, Kamal Haasan reminisced about the initial encounter he had with Rajinikanth, which took place on the set of a movie directed by K Balachander.

At that very moment, the actor mentioned that he had been deeply affected when he found out that his good friend, Govindarajan, had been diagnosed with cancer and was fighting to survive.

I’ve shared an unbreakable bond with a remarkable soul named Govindarajan, whom we affectionately called Govinda Haasan due to our familial connection. He was more than just a friend; he was my brother from another mother, and they say lawyers are like family, so my brother and he shared an unparalleled camaraderie.

One fateful day, while I was engrossed in shooting, I received word that he wasn’t well. We would almost always meet daily, but our meetings became fewer as the days passed. Tragically, they confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a malignant cancer.

Moving forward, I must share a poignant moment from my recent experiences. The first time I laid eyes on Rajinikanth was during his cameo in the film, where his character succumbed to cancer on-screen. This heartrending scene instantly transported me back to a personal connection, as it mirrored the struggle of a dear friend battling the same disease.

Kamal Haasan expressed how he merged an image of his friend with Rajinikanth and said, “For some reason, all the feelings transformed into affection for Rajini. I often remind him of this. I believe I projected my friend’s image onto him, and it’s remained ever since. We’ve been inseparable since then. We may not always see eye to eye, but we remain friends.

In numerous movies, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth collaborated, but eventually chose to pursue their separate paths due to the importance of focusing on their own careers.

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2025-03-24 14:13