Rajinikanth: He spoke to me only twice in 40 years

Chennai April 16: Superstar Rajinikanth and his close friend Kamal Haasan has attended as chief guest for the film institute inauguration. Both the stars had unveiled the veteran Bharathiraja's International Institute of Cinema. The both actors recalled the memories with the Bharathiraja.

In the event, Kamal said that "Our friendship started even as we were both working as assistant directors. Later, when I became an actor, I fell sick during one of the movie shoots. As an AD, he came to me and asked me if I could join the shoot. I was feeling uncomfortable and told him that I’d come after a few minutes. Suddenly, he held my hands and laughed, 'You will become a big actor one day!'."

On the other hand, Rajinikanth told that "When anyone asks Bharathiraja sir as to what he thinks of me, he would reply, 'he is a good man'. They would still ask, as an artist, what do you have to say about Rajini, and he would still say, 'he is a good soul.' He has never accepted me as a good actor or hero!"

Superstar also added that "Initially, I used to call him Bharathi. Later, when Ilaiyaraaja revealed his age, I started to call him 'sir'. If you know his real age, you will fall at his feet!" (laughs) Rajini also said about some unknown fact about the director "Whenever the legendary MGR was amidst tension in his political career, he would call Bharathiraja to his place and chat with him for hours together."

Rajini also said that "Bharathi Raja spoke to Me only twice in the past 40 years. Once for the call sheets of mine for the movie '16 Yella Vayasu' Tamil Version, The second time was for the inauguration of BIIC. He never said I am a good actor. But, He would always say that I am a good person."