By now, everyone knows that Superstar Rajinikanth has been awarded the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, making him the third individual, after Sivaji Ganesan and Balachander, to get the award from Kollywood.
In a humble gesture, Rajini has dedicated this award to the people who encouraged him during his trying days, including his guru, late K. Balachander, and a friend who is a bus driver.
“I dedicate this award to my friend and bus driver Raj Bahadur, who discovered my acting talent and encouraged me, my elder brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad, who sacrificed a lot to make me an actor while struggling with poverty, my guru K. Balachander, who launched me as Rajinikanth,” the actor wrote.
In a written statement he also dedicated the award to producers, directors, technicians, distributors, exhibitors, media and to the godly Tamil people, “who have made me live and my fan base around the world.”
The veteran actor also thanked Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswamy, Deputy CM Panneerselvam, Leader of Opposition Stalin, his friend and actor Kamal Haasan, politicians, his friends in the industry and his well-wishers.