Is Vijay the next Rajinikanth? Superstar answered it 20 years ago | Entertainment News,The Indian Express

It all started with Varisu producer Dil Raju claiming Vijay was a bigger star than Ajith. And for some reason, the debate took on another layer: Is Vijay bigger than Rajinikanth?

It all started with Varisu producer Dil Raju claiming Vijay was a bigger star than Ajith. And for some reason, the debate took on another layer: Is Vijay bigger than Rajinikanth?

For the uninitiated, the hunt for the next Superstar began 20 years ago. In Tamil Nadu, Superstar is synonymous with Rajinikanth and not just an English noun that can be used without careful consideration while referring to other popular stars. The market pundits have not been able to find a definitive candidate for that position yet. When Baba (2002) tanked at the box office, many wrote off Rajinikanth. It was touted as the end of his box office supremacy. Thus began the search for the next Rajinikanth. But, even today, he commands a considerable market share and has delivered the biggest blockbusters (Enthiran, Kabali, 2.0) in the history of Indian cinema. At 72, he’s still going strong.

For example, in about seven months during the intervening period of 2018 and 2019, Rajinikanth’s three films collected a combined total of Rs 1000 crore from their worldwide ticket sales.

For a long time now, all stars, including Vijay and Ajith, have maintained that no star can replace Rajinikanth. And everyone will agree without a debate. There can never be a replacement for him as a cultural icon. His contribution to the field of entertainment and the growth of Indian cinema the world over are unmatchable. The whole debate is about who among the current crop of top stars in Tamil cinema occupies the most commercial real estate at the box office. But, the debate has digressed and flown in a different direction.

Rajinikanth himself is not very fond of his ‘Superstar’ position. He appreciates it and enjoys it while he can. But, he never desires to hold onto it forever. And he said the same in clear terms about 20 years ago.