Meet Rajinikanth's 'Adopted Dad' Who Has Dedicated His Life To Philanthropy

Superstar Rajinikanth is one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema. Beyond his outstanding filmography, the Tamil megastar is also admired for his humility, grounded nature, and simplicity. Rajinikanth is deeply connected to his culture and is a devoted family man. While his wife and children are well known, it's less commonly known that he has adopted someone as his father.

Who is Rajnikanth’s adopted father?

As per reports suggest, Rajnikanth’s adopted father’s name is Mr Palam Kalyanasundaram, who is a former librarian and has dedicated his entire life and earnings to helping underprivileged people. Over his 30-year career, he consistently donated all his income to charity. Now 83 years old, Kalyanasundaram has spent decades supporting the poor, even going as far as sleeping on pavements to understand the hardships faced by the homeless.

In recognition of his exceptional social work, the Indian Government has also announced that he will be honoured with the Padma Shri Award for 2023. This prestigious civilian award will be presented to Kalyanasundaram by the Honorable President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

When Rajnikanth asked his adopted father to move-in with him

In 2012, Rajinikanth chose to adopt Mr Kalyanasundaram, a dedicated social worker, as his father. Rajinikanth, touched by Kalyanasundaram's selfless nature, made this decision. Despite this, Kalyanasundaram, who remains a bachelor, has declined Rajinikanth's repeated invitations to move in with him.