DYK Rajinikanth wanted to quit acting in 1978, here's how he came back stronger

Rajinikanth is one of India's foremost superstars and a true cinema icon. The Thalaivar has worked in films across all regions of the country. On his 73rd birthday, the Tamil star is receiving birthday wishes from all quarters. Marking the special occasion, we look back at the time Rajinikanth featured in a record number of 21 films and contemplated quitting acting.

1978 - An important phase in Rajinikanth's career

Rajinikanth made his acting debut in 1975 with the Tamil film Apoorva Raagangal. In the following two years, he was flooded with work offers and was shooting for projects round the clock. A turning point came in 1978 when he saw through the release of 21 films across three regional languages -- Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. For all of the 20+ movies, Rajinikanth dubbed for his voice.

Working tirelessly round the clock, he eventually fell ill and experienced a nervous breakdown. Reportedly, actress Sripriya helped Rajini regain his health, while K Balachander convinced him to continue in the industry as he contemplated quitting films to lead a "normal life".

Rajinikanth becomes choosy in selecting scripts

K Balachander advised Rajinikanth to work with established banners to beat work stress. In the coming years, the number of films he appeared in decreased slightly. Meanwhile, his success as a solo lead continued to soar.

By the late 1980s, Rajini appeared in fewer than ten films per year across languages. After 1995, his film appearances became quite infrequent. He induced long breaks between projects to preserve his star status. He prioritised quality over quantity and this helped him further attain a special place in the hearts of fans who waited for his films to hit the big screens.

Thus a mix of advice and acumen, helped Rajinikanth sustain through career difficulties.