Rajinikanth says 'alcoholism is the biggest mistake of my life'

Tamil cinema icon Rajinikanth graced the audio launch event of his upcoming film "Jailer," attracting thousands of devoted fans to the Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Amidst the fervent enthusiasm, the legendary actor made a candid and heartfelt confession about his past struggles with alcoholism, describing it as the most significant mistake of his life. Rajinikanth took the opportunity to advise his fans to consume alcohol responsibly and avoid falling into the trap of substance abuse.

During the event, Rajinikanth candidly expressed, "If there was no alcohol in my life, I would serve society. Alcoholism is the biggest mistake in life." He lamented that his battle with alcohol addiction had hindered his potential for greater achievements, acknowledging that life's trajectory could have been more fruitful and propelled him to greater stardom if not for this challenge. Notably, the acclaimed actor had addressed the issue of alcoholism in the 2018 film "Kaala," where his character's carelessness due to intoxication led to the loss of his wife. This marked the first instance of Rajinikanth portraying alcohol and cigarettes negatively, having previously showcased them as fashion statements in his films.

Furthermore, Rajinikanth revealed his desire to shed the "Superstar" title during the same event. He expressed admiration for the song 'Hukum' and requested the film's makers to remove the 'superstar' tag from the title, citing it as a cumbersome burden. His inclination to relinquish the label had been conveyed earlier.

Touching upon another subject, Rajinikanth discussed the reactions to fellow actor Thalapathy Vijay's film "Beast." Despite receiving mixed reviews, Rajinikanth highlighted that distributors were unscathed, and the movie performed well at the box office.

The highly anticipated film "Jailer" boasts an impressive ensemble cast, featuring Jackie Shroff, Ramya Krishnan, Mohanlal, Shivarajkumar, Vasanth Ravi, and Tamannaah. Scheduled for a theatrical release on August 10, the movie is produced by Sun Pictures, with music composed by Anirudh Ravi Chander, who previously worked on Rajinikanth's blockbuster "Petta."