rajinikanth dadasaheb phalke awards bus driver
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Megastar Rajinikanth, who was recently honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, conveyed his gratitude to several people, including Raj Bahadur, the bus driver who would inform him of acting auditions during his days as a bus conductor. The Thalaiva took to Twitter to convey thanks and gratitude.

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He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government of India, as well as several others including Raj Bahadur, the bus driver who used to inform him of acting auditions during his days as a bus conductor. “For discovering my acting skill and for encouraging me, my friend Raj Bahadur,” he wrote in a special note he posted on Twitter. Rajinikanth also thanked his brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad for “making all the sacrifices that he did to make me an actor, even when wrought by poverty”.

The actor made his acting debut with filmmaker K. Balachander’s Apoorva Raagangal in 1975. In his note, the superstar thanked Balachander, his “guru” for teaching him the art of acting and honing his skills. The megastar also thanked his well-wishers including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, leader of the Opposition MK Stalin, his friend and colleague Kamal Haasan, and all other leaders.

 

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He has also expressed his gratitude to directors, producers and technicians, media, stunt master, theatre owners and everyone who has helped him in his long and fruitful career.

Prime Minister Modi had congratulated Rajinikanth by tweeting, “Popular across generations, a body of work few can boast of, diverse roles and an endearing personality…that`s Shri @rajinikanth Ji for you. It is a matter of immense joy that Thalaiva has been conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Congratulations to him(sic).”

Rajinikanth responded to Modi’s tweet by posting, “Immensely humbled and honoured with your greetings and the most prestigious #DadasahebPhalkeAward award respected and dearest Shri @narendramodi ji. My heartfelt thanks to you and the government of India(sic).”

Also Read: Rajinikanth pens down a heartfelt note for being conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award