Former actress <keyword id="6410389" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="simi-garewal" source="Orion">Simi Garewal</keyword>, who is best known for hosting 'Rendezvous with <keyword id="6387914" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="simi" source="Orion">Simi</keyword> Garewal', recently returned to TV after 16 years and that too with '<keyword id="26022" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bigg-boss" source="Orion">Bigg Boss</keyword> 16'. In today's episode, viewers will not only witness the entry of family members of the housemates but also a special guest who is known for inspiring candor on her celebrity talk show. Simi Garewal will be hosting a unique talk show. She poses some interesting questions to contestants. She asks Priyanka Chahar Choudhary and Shiv Thakare what they will choose between love and success. The suspense escalates when Simi asks Shalin Bhanot to choose between Tina Datta and a plate of chicken. It seems that Shalin has a change of heart because he declares that he will choose anything but Tina. A clever repartee comes from Simi who quips, "Don't be hard on her." In tonight's episode, the first family member to step inside the house after the freeze announcement is contestant <keyword id="18544" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="soundarya" source="Orion">Soundarya</keyword> Sharma's mother, Usha Sharma, who hugs her frozen daughter. Soundarya's mother happily declares that she watches everyone in the show every day and she's very proud that she's known as Soundarya's mother. After watching her daughter play the game for 100 days, it will be interesting to see what advice she gives her to come out stronger than the other contestants. Just like every mother who graced this season, Soundarya's mother brought light into the house and that's when <keyword id="3160316" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sumbul" source="Orion">Sumbul</keyword> Touqeer Khan's uncle, Iqbal Khan entered the house. His entry is well timed when Sumbul, in a unique garb, is playing a game in the garden area. Sumbul's reaction to his entry leaves him confused about whether she's crying or laughing. He reminds her that the cry-baby version of Sumbul doesn't exist anymore and offers her chicken cooked by her father. Sumbul breaks down at the mention of her father. To cheer her up, her uncle sings 'Chehra Hain Ya Chaand Khila Hain' dedicating it to her. Sumbul's journey has been a rollercoaster ride and it remains to be seen what her uncle has to say about it in this episode. Following the entry of Sumbul's uncle, the housemates expect <keyword id="1741028" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sreejita" source="Orion">Sreejita</keyword> De's fiance <keyword id="23520" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="michael" source="Orion">Michael</keyword> Blohm-Pape, who is deemed as the 'daamaad of the house' to make an appearance on the show. The contestants begin preparing for his griha pravesh with a vessel of water placed at the entrance for him to kick and make a solemn entrance into the house. Archana Gautam rushes to replace the water vessel with rice, 'Bigg Boss' commands freeze. Michael enters beaming, kicks the water vessel and hugs a frozen Sreejita. While everyone is released, Sreejita remains frozen until Michael greets all the contestants. When 'Bigg Boss' finally releases her, she jumps with joy and hops on her fiance making everyone smile and blush. 'Bigg Boss 16' premiered on Colors TV on October 1. Shalin Bhanot, Tina Datta, Abdu Rozik, MC Stan, Gautam Vig, Shiv Thakare, Ankit Gupta, Nimrit Kaur and Priyanka Choudhary are also a part of the ongoing season. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/a-startup-that-could-either-be-a-hero-or-zero-in-2-years-get-no-funds-on-shark-tank-india-s2/articleshow/96935490.cms">A startup that could ‘either be a hero or zero in 2 years’ get no funds on Shark Tank India S2</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/supercluster-pi-raises-2-million-from-bhuvan-bam-ranveer-allahbadia-praful-billore-more/articleshow/96938481.cms">Bhuvan Bam, MBA Chaiwala’s Praful Billore, Ranveer Allahbadia &amp; others invest $2 million in SuperCluster Pi</a>

Simi Garewal is back with her Rendezvous but on Bigg Boss

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/35710506.cms" /> When <keyword id="707762" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Thalaivar">Thalaivar</keyword> takes the centre stage, big bucks are bound to roll in. The <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> drought is finally over as silver screen sensation <keyword id="14509" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajinikanth">Rajinikanth</keyword>’s latest outing <keyword id="1849408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kochadaiiyaan">Kochadaiiyaan</keyword> has turned out to be a smash hit, crossing the Rs 50 crore mark in just five days, according to industry estimates. The movie grossed Rs 42 crore worldwide in the first three days, according to a release by <keyword id="128026" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Eros-International">Eros International</keyword>. Domestic collections amounted to Rs 30 crore in the opening weekend while the rest came from overseas business. This could be equivalent to Rs 32.3 crore nett worldwide, as per trade estimates. “Kochadaiiyaan opening weekend – Worldwide: Rs 42 cr gross. All 6 languages. 2D and 3D. SUPERB,” film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted. 
 However, first Monday collections dipped considerably to Rs 5 crore in the <keyword id="1761158" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="indian-circuit">Indian circuit</keyword> while the movie managed to earn Rs 4.5 crore at home on the first Tuesday. Although overseas numbers for these two days are not available yet, industry insiders put gross worldwide collections at Rs 50 crore-plus just after five days. “Kochadaiiyaan… has fared exceptionally well in <keyword id="8695" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Malaysia">Malaysia</keyword> in particular. Is good in the <keyword id="6355055" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="USA">USA</keyword>, the UK &amp; <keyword id="6355478" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Australia">Australia</keyword>,” Adarsh tweeted about weekday business. With earnings from <keyword id="6358065" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Satellite">satellite</keyword> rights in multiple languages, audio and music rights, brand tie-ups and other income, the film is well on its way to cross Rs 100 in revenues. 
 This period drama-cum-futuristic fantasy was off to a stupendous start on Friday (May 23), hitting 3,000-plus theatres worldwide. Eros International released the film in 2D and 3D, in 6 languages, and directly undertook the distribution in <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>. The flick saw nearly 95% occupancy in Tamil Nadu where Rajinikanth has a huge fan following. In contrast, the Telugu version saw a lacklustre beginning at home, grossing only Rs 5 crore in the first 3 days. Business slumped in the <keyword id="2266509" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Northern-belt">Northern belt</keyword> as well and the Rajini-starrer significantly lagged behind with Rs 4 crore gross during the first three days. The budget of this movie is Rs 125 crore across all languages. 
 In case you are not aware of its many merits, let us quickly run you through some landmarks. Directed by <keyword id="1800934" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Soundarya-R-Ashwin">Soundarya R. Ashwin</keyword> (Rajini’s daughter) and written by K.S. Ravikumar, Kochadaiiyaan is India’s first 3D film to use <keyword id="2266515" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Photorealistic-motion-capturing">photorealistic motion capturing</keyword> techniques – a technology that makes animation as lifelike as possible (you had a good dose of it in James Cameron’s <keyword id="44111" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Avatar">Avatar</keyword>). The film has Rajinikanth in triple roles – Kochadaiiyaan, Rana and Sena. <keyword id="598" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Deepika-Padukone">Deepika Padukone</keyword>, <keyword id="297" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jackie-Shroff">Jackie Shroff</keyword>, <keyword id="1029184" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="nassar">Nassar</keyword> and <keyword id="24628" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shobana">Shobana</keyword> did pretty well in other key roles in the film. The music has been composed by <keyword id="11851" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="AR-Rahman">AR Rahman</keyword> and cinematography has been handled by Padmesh. 
 
For the thinking audience, however, the storyline has nothing new. It features the same old conflict between the good and the evil but also comes with some surprising twists and moral dilemmas. Yet, at the end, it tires more than illuminates, failing to take you past the visual dazzle. As film critic Shubhra Gupta so rightly notes, “Even Rajini, the one and the only, can’t pick up a film and run with it, if it has the oldest, creakiest plots cobbled together from many books. But the best tech specs in the world can’t rescue a sinking story… After a point, it all becomes too much sound and fury and not much else. One Rajini flipping cigarettes is much more fun than two Rajinis flinging swords in never never land.” 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/35710564.cms" /> 
 Produced by <keyword id="27326" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sajid-Nadiadwala">Sajid Nadiadwala</keyword> and directed by <keyword id="616900" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sabbir-Khan">Sabbir Khan</keyword>, <keyword id="1184791" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Heropanti">Heropanti</keyword> (a remake of the 1983 movie Hero) is the other release of the week and has performed better than Kochadaiiyaan in the northern circuits. The action-romance flick has seen an influx of debut actors (a total of 21) including <keyword id="133664" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tiger-Shroff">Tiger Shroff</keyword> (Jackie’s son) and <keyword id="210696" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kriti-Sanon">Kriti Sanon</keyword> in the lead roles 
 
“Heropanti passes the crucial ‘Monday test.’ Fri 6.63 cr, Sat 6.42 cr, Sun 8.28 cr, Mon 4.26 cr. Total: Rs 25.59 cr nett. India biz,” tweeted Adarsh while trade figure puts the domestic collections at Rs 24.96 crore. <keyword id="1996079" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Overseas-collections">Overseas collections</keyword> stood at Rs 2.13 crore gross after Day 4. The masala entertainer was released in 2,100 screens across India and its debut day earning is the fifth highest opening day collection for movies released in 2014, behind <keyword id="6593120" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jai-Ho">Jai Ho</keyword>, <keyword id="72970" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="2-States">2 States</keyword>, <keyword id="6427325" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gunday">Gunday</keyword> and <keyword id="1020628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS-2">Ragini MMS 2</keyword>. Earnings on Monday fell less than 40% than what it was on Friday and the strong growth continued even on Day 5 (Tuesday, May 27) when it collected around Rs 4 crore at home. 
 
This one is a medium-budget movie and cost around Rs 26 crore including promotion. So we can safely assume that it is set to be a hit without much fuss. But all these good numbers do not essentially spell quality. 
 While Kriti Sanon (<keyword id="7876" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dimpy">Dimpy</keyword>) looks quite striking in a below-par storyline featuring love-and-marriage adventures and misadventures in Jattland, Tiger Shroff (<keyword id="230102" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bablu">Bablu</keyword>) looks quite inane unless he is in the thick of the action, doing some awesome stunts and beating up the goons. Noted film critic Anupama Chopra has given the movie 2 out of 5 stars saying, “Heropanti is comically bad and the disjointed narrative brims with low-IQ, high-testosterone men brandishing weapons. The women are puppets who either simper or scream.” 
 
Quite depressing, if you ask us, but there’s one silver lining. Both movies are raking in the moolah after a long time and that’s what matters in the business of cinema. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Kochadaiiyaan Thrives On Rajini Power; Heropanti Soaring High

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The recent tech layoffs have put those on H-1B visas on a time crunch to find a new job. </li><li>It's the latest turbulence to a visa system that many say isn't working for employees or employers.</li></ul><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?postID=639257cf722a6809ba294ef5&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fatalovesyou%2F">Atal Agarwal</a> first came to the US from India five years ago as a graduate student, eventually finding his way into the healthtech sector as a project manager. His employer sponsored his stay in the country, making him a holder of one of the United States' coveted H-1B work visas. But when the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-layoffs-2022-causes-outcomes-2022-11">tidal wave of layoffs in the tech industry</a> hit his employer, Agarwal found himself without a job — setting off a stressful 60-day timer to either find a new one that would come with visa sponsorship, or return to India.Big tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Twitter have sponsored close to 45,000 H-1B visa holders in the last three years, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-21/2022-tech-layoffs-leave-h-1b-visa-holders-in-limbo?leadSource=uverify%20wall">according to a report from Bloomberg</a>. It's unclear how <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-layoffs-tech-ceo-pandemic-boom-last-forever-dumb-mistake-2022-11">recent tech layoffs</a> have impacted many visa-holders, but <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?postID=639257cf722a6809ba294ef5&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theinformation.com%2Farticles%2Flaid-off-tech-workers-with-visas-face-deadline-but-job-openings-remain">The Information</a> reported that Meta and Amazon's recent layoffs alone likely affected hundreds. Agarwal, and the many other visa-holders in this limbo after losing their tech jobs, are in for a real challenge if they want to stay in the US, lawyers and other experts told Insider. There are still tech jobs available even in a market downturn. Finding one willing to go through the time and expense of sponsoring an H-1B visa, however, is more difficult.The whole experience has soured some, like Agarwal, on the idea of continuing to work in American tech at all when the threat of having to uproot an entire life is always lingering."Who would want to move their lives in this way?" Agarwal told Insider. <div type="image" title="Atal Agarwal is one of many H-1B visa holders who the tech industry's recent layoffs have affected. He's been building a life in the US for over five years, and recently participated in an Ironman race. He said the challenges in the visa system make it hard for immigrants to feel settled here." height="3200" width="2133" msid="96202783" hostid="261" sizebytes="320990"></div>This feeling of disillusionment presents a competitive threat to the American tech sector. Companies like Amazon, Meta, Google, Twitter, and Microsoft have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-google-twitter-speak-out-against-trump-h1b-visa-freeze-2020-6">long relied on H-1B visas to bring in the talent</a> they need to fill positions in specialized, competitive fields like engineering and computer science. Leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, have long advocated for reforming the H-1B system to allow more of that talent to work in the US. If the current situation continues as the combination of job losses, scarce availability of H-1B visas, and strict rules for visa-holders, this specialized workforce could bring their talents to places with more permissive policies like Canada or the nations of the European Union."I do think the US is still the hub of some of the smartest, most diverse people in the world who come here for education, working, and living," <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?postID=639257cf722a6809ba294ef5&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fsoundarya-balasubramani%2F">Soundarya Balasubramani</a>, an author and tech worker who lives in the US on a work visa, said. "But I also think that we might be overstating the impact of living in the US sometimes." If that happens, experts and insiders warn, that could <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-immigrant-tech-execs-venture-capitalists-oppose-trump-work-visas-2020-7">undermine America's vaunted competitiveness in the tech sector</a>."We have laws in effect today that don't reflect the reality of the world we live in today in 2022," Jason Finkelman, an immigration attorney based in Austin, Texas, said. "This antiquated immigration system does not provide robust, flexible options for the most talented, skilled foreign nationals to come to this country and work. And it hurts not only top talent, but it also hurts US employers seeking to grow and innovate with that."<h2>Disillusionment and frustration with working in the US</h2>The net effect here is that the US could become less desirable as a place to live for immigrants looking to break into tech, several experts and tech workers said. Those who leave may not be interested in navigating the process for coming back, and the next generation may not be interested in the US at all.Layoffs and bureaucracy have undermined Silicon Valley's reputation as a good place for immigrants to build a life in the US, and might encourage some to either stay in their home countries or look elsewhere to find a job abroad, the experts said. It could hurt America's ability to compete in the long run.Indeed, some Indian immigrants to the US already see opportunities in returning home to participate in the country's booming tech sector, <a href="https://srajagopalan.substack.com/p/why-everyone-should-pay-more-attention">Shruti Rajagopalan</a>, <a href="https://srajagopalan.substack.com/p/why-everyone-should-pay-more-attention">an investor with Emergent Ventures</a>, <a href="https://srajagopalan.substack.com/p/why-everyone-should-pay-more-attention">wrote in a recent blog post</a>. The 60-day countdown to find a new job is even more stressful for those with families.Finkelman said clients have told him they really only have two to three weeks to find new jobs, or they'll spend the rest of their time pulling their kids out of school and making arrangements to get everyone out of the country before time runs out."That's highly disruptive to any family," he said. Actually finding those jobs is proving difficult for some, as well. One tech worker, who Twilio recently laid off, said that any job that might be willing to sponsor an H-1B visa now has at least ten other people interviewing at the same time. This person asked not to be named to preserve their professional-career prospects.Many others have expressed similar experiences in Linkedin posts, <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?postID=639257cf722a6809ba294ef5&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fcontent%2F%3Fkeywords%3D%2523h1b%2520%2523layoffs%26origin%3DSWITCH_SEARCH_VERTICAL%26sid%3Dyu7">saying they have a short window of time to find a new position and are open to any leads</a>. Some, like Agarwal, found a job with time to spare and are able to stay in the US. But not everybody who needs a visa will be so fortunate."There's no scenario in which everyone that got laid off, specifically those that are dependent on work authorization, are gonna get a job," Manan Mehta, the founder of Unshackled Ventures, which helps immigrants found companies in the US, said. <h2>Experts said immigration reform is needed to turn things around</h2>The entire situation has reignited calls for reform to the H-1B visa system, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-ban-work-visas-h1b-immigration-restrictions-attorneys-2020-6">which has seen a turbulent past few years</a>. The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/22/us/politics/trump-h1b-work-visas.html">Trump administration tried to suspend much of the program in mid-2020</a>. That effort, combined with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, has slowed the approval process and added layers of bureaucracy.Mehta suggested that a good start would be to lay a path for laid-off H-1B workers to go the entrepreneurial route and let them found their own startups.Another useful area of reform would be to give visa-holders more flexibility to switch jobs without getting mired in bureaucracy, Romish Badani, the CEO of Bridge, a startup that helps employers manage the immigration process, said. His company provides legal aid and services for companies not familiar with the H-1B process so they can have the option to hire people who need visa sponsorship. Agarwal suggested that just more than 60 days to find a new job would help.What the experts all agreed on, ultimately, is that some kind of change to the H-1B is necessary and overdue if the US wants to continue being an attractive market for specialized tech talent."These people are great builders," Agarwal said. "So they are going to start building things in their own country, which impacts the economy of America."Are you an H-1B visa holder and have a story to share? Contact this reporter via email at <a href="mailto:pzaveri@businessinsider.com">pzaveri@insider.com</a> or Signal at 925-364-4258. (PR pitches by email only, please.)

Tech's tidal wave of layoffs means lots of top workers have to leave the US. It could hurt Silicon Valley and undermine America's ability to compete.

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59207ca934911bf24b8b4cce-800/2017-05-19t235010z1lynxnped4i1ulrtroptp3usa-airplane-disturbance.jpg" border="0" alt="American Airlines" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo" data-mce-caption="American Airlines aircraft are parked at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, U.S., August 8, 2016." />REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>American Airlines is suspending its flights to Venezuela indefinitely as the country grapples with growing political unrest.</li><li>The airline will continue working with team members, union leaders and other key stakeholders to restart service when conditions are right, a company spokeswoman told Reuters on Thursday.</li><li>A number of airlines have stopped their flights to the South American country because of security concerns and disputes over money they say the Venezuelan government owes them.</li></ul>American Airlines Group Inc is indefinitely suspending its flights to Venezuela, as the country continues to struggle with political turmoil and unrest.The airline will continue working with team members, union leaders and other key stakeholders to restart service when conditions are right, a company spokeswoman told Reuters on Thursday.American Airlines had temporarily suspended its flights to the country earlier this month after its pilots union urged its workers to deny trips in the wake of a travel advisory issued by the U.S. State Department.A number of airlines have stopped their flights to the South American country because of security concerns and disputes over money they say the Venezuelan government owes them.Reporting by Soundarya J in Bengaluru and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Editing by Anil D'Silva <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-y-unveiled-mid-size-suv-elon-musk-2019-3">Tesla just unveiled its Model Y - here are the best features of the $39,000 SUV</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/wLxzfZUo-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

American Airlines suspends flights to Venezuela as the country grapples with growing political unrest

<ul><li><keyword id="14509" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajinikanth">Rajinikanth</keyword> is one of the most loved and highly-paid actors in Asia, who holds a mass appeal.</li><li>His unique sense of dialogue delivery and the swiftness of his actions helped create the brand ‘Rajinikanth’.</li><li>Earlier this week, Rajinikanth said that he is disbanding his political party.</li></ul>Sivaji Rao Gaekwad has had it tough, early on in his life. After schooling, he took up various jobs and worked as a carpenter, coolie and finally a bus conductor in Bangalore. Born in Bangalore in 1950, Gaekwad worked as a bus conductor in the 1970s before he made his debut in Tamil cinema in 1975 with the film Apoorva Ragangal. Gaekwad was reincarnated as Rajinikanth. But this story is not about his filmography. This is an effort to look back at his complete volte-face on politics. Earlier this week, the Dadasaheb Phalke award winner said that he has disbanded his political party putting an end -- seeming once and for all -- to his noncommittal tryst with politics. In Tamil Nadu, movie stars taking a plunge into politics has always been a norm. Movie stars like J Jayalalithaa and M G Ramachandran, commonly known as MGR, have been chief ministers of the state representing the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). AIADMK’s rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) former leader, late M. Karunanidhi also wrote scripts and dialogues for films. So, when it came to Rajinikanth, the public expected him to follow the same path. He first dipped his toe into the arena back in 1996, by campaigning against the then chief minister Jayalalithaa. His speech against the former actress stated, “If Jayalalithaa is voted back to power, even God cannot save Tamil Nadu," causing shockwaves and leading to the defeat of the AIADMK in the elections that year. Bus conductor, movie superstar and people’s favourite Rajini’s appeal to masses comes from his encapsulation of the working class and labourers in the roles he chooses. For example, in his film Muthu, one of the songs — Oruvan Oruvan Mudhalali — talks about the role of equality and humanity. Another song Naan Autokaran from the movie Baashha captured the attention of the auto drivers association as the song praised the community. While his mass appeal and stardom in south India helped the DMK in the 1996 Assembly Election, it was not the same in 1998 when the General Elections took place. The DMK was only able to secure 9 seats out of 39. Since the defeat, Rajini has steered clear of politics for more than six years and focused on his film career and personal life. Political and ‘not so’ political phase After the failure he faced in the 1998 general elections, in 2004 he entered into politics again by raising his voice against the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and supported the AIADMK-BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) alliance as PMK had created a big ruckus against his film ‘Baba’. Though Rajinikanth did not change his opinion on Jayalalithaa, he supported the alliance thinking that the BJP will work for ‘linking all the rivers in the country’ to solve the drinking water crisis. His efforts against PMK was all in vain once again as the party won only 5 seats in the Lok Sabha election. Later in the same year, the BJP-AIADMK alliance was not able to win even a single seat in the state assembly election that followed. Meanwhile, he was changing the trend and style of Tamil cinema with his mannerisms and unique dialogues. “Nan oru thadava sonna nooru thadava sonna madhiri”, (If i say it once, its equivalent to having said it a hundred time) -- a punch dialogue from the movie Baashha and “En vazhi thani vazhi”(My way is a unique way) from Padayappa are something which people celebrate even today. Rajinikanth goes through a crisis The Tamil Superstar was about to appear in Rana, a period film to be produced by his daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth and directed by K. S. Ravikumar. But he suffered a mild foodborne illness in the sets for which he had to undergo medications. After that he was rushed to St. Isabel's hospital, in Chennai, for breathlessness and fever. He was also admitted to the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute in the month of May for respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. In this phase Rajinikanth was completely hospitalised and did not indulge in politics much except for his support to the AIADMK in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections in 2011. In 2014, his political stature grew as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the actor at his residence before the general elections. Both of them denied that there were no political indications in the visit, but it seemed like both held each other in great regard. After that the BJP put in all the efforts to make Rajinikanth join the party thinking about his stardom and the 1996 elections. <div type="image" title="Graph of his political journey" msid="84464061" hostid="261"></div> Finally the wait was over He started to meet his fans across Tamil Nadu and gave a hint that he was entering politics in 2017. Just before the New Year, he organised a fan meet-and-greet — an event went on for six days. Fans from more than 20 districts were present at the meet. Finally, he addressed the gathering at the Raghvendra hall in Chennai on December 3, 2017 where he opened up about his entry into politics. Soon after his announcement, the ‘Rajini fans welfare association’ was transformed and established as a political party named ‘Rajini Makkal Mandram’. He visited the Himalayas for his movie ‘Baba’ which was released in the year 2002 and started to breathe spirituality back into his life and this was regarded as the reason he chose the ‘Baba symbol’ as the logo for the mandram. However, he has always mentioned that he will be into “spiritual politics”. U-turn happened Even after his announcement regarding the entry to politics, Rajinikanth decided not to take part in the 2019 general elections and also clearly said that his party, Rajini Makkal Mandram will not support any political party in the Lok Sabha elections. Rajnikanth finally ended the suspense and tweeted on 3 December, 2020 that he will bring back his political party in January 2021. The people were expecting the Rajini Makkal Mandram, to take part in the 2021 state election in Tamil Nadu. He also stated that the public wants transparent, honest, corruption-free, secular, caste-less, and spiritual politics. Chaos comes to an end Though he nodded yes to politics, the superstar of Tamil cinema, announced clearly on July 12, 2021 that he has no plans to enter politics, after a discussion with the ‘Rajini Makkal Mandram’. He also added that the Mandram has been dissolved. A separate meeting happened with the party authorities in the Raghavendra Mandapam (hall) in Kodambakkam on 12 July, after which the actor announced his decision in a press meet. He stated that the party will be back to ‘Rajinikanth Fans Welfare Association’ with the same members. In his Twitter account, he released a notice announcing the decision. He also added that he has been under medication and has been to the US for medicinal examinations followed by the shooting of his upcoming film Annaatthe, which is why he will not be able to concentrate on politics anymore. <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6Es1NbUUAALiUq.jpg">https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6Es1NbUUAALiUq.jpg</a> After this announcement, it seems pretty clear that the actor has shut the door forever. SEE ALSO - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/netflix-plans-to-add-video-games-to-its-categories/articleshow/84433119.cms">Netflix will reportedly add video games on its platform ‘within the next year’</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/just-dial-share-price-surge-as-mukesh-ambani-is-looking-to-buy-just-dial/articleshow/84432450.cms">As Mukesh Ambani reportedly dials in, Just Dial stocks surge 3%</a>

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