The name is Rajinikanth! Here's the story of an actor and hero loved by all

Call him Rajinikanth, Thalaivar or one of India's biggest superstars, his journey his enigma, success, and fan following is a source of inspiration. Many don't know that this superstar didn't just rise to stardom, he had years of hardship and strife, before one break made him one of Asia's highest and most respected stars. Let's take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awardee.

1. Rajinikanth's real name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad. He was brought up speaking Marathi and Kannada.

2. Before Rajinikanth became an actor he worked as a bus conductor, carpenter & a coolie.

3. Rajinikanth made his debut in Balachander's 'Apoorva Raagangal' alongside Kamal Haasan and Srividya.

4. Rajini started off his acting career with mythological Kannada plays and has played a prominent role like that of 'Duryodhana'.

5. In the first two years of Rajinikanth's career, he got only negative roles to play - of an abusive husband, a rapist, a womaniser, a pornographer, an adulterer, but it was in 1977 when he first got to enact in a positive role in the movie Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri.

6. Rajinikanth has starred in eleven Tamil remakes of Amitabh Bachchan films like Deewar

7. Rajini is the highest-paid actor in South India. He received ₹23 crores for Enthiran.

8. Rajinikanth is the only Indian actor to be featured in the Central Board of Secondary Education syllabus, in a lesson titled From Bus Conductor to Superstar.

9. For his role in 'Sivaji' (2007) Rajinikanth received an acting fee of ₹26 crores and became the highest-paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan at the time.

10. Rajinikanth made an appearance in the 1988 English action-adventure film Bloodstone.

11. Rajinikanth usually goes to the Himalayas after the release of his films.

12. Few ardent lovers of the Thaliavva in Karnataka have established a 'Sahasra Lingam' at the Kotilingeshwara Temple in Kolar, Karnataka, for the peace & prosperity of their star.