No political undertones on meetings planned by fans, says Rajinikanth

Pic Courtesy: Movie Still

Chennai: Superstar Rajinikanth today denied any political undertones to a series of meetings planned by his fans next month, saying it was long due for him.

The meetings, which include photo sessions of the actor with his die-hard fans, "was long due for me," he said.

The 'Kabali' star said his fans would meet here on April 2, but that he was not likely to participate in it.

"No, no. Absolutely there is no politics," was his response when reporters asked if there was any likelihood of "major announcements" being made at the end of the interactions, apparently an indication to his fans pushing him to take the political plunge.

On the cancellation of his Sri Lankan visit, where he had given in to opposition demand from pro-Tamil outfits, Rajinikanth merely said "I have already issued a statement on the matter.

The 66-year-old star said there would be photo sessions starting April 11 where he is slated to click pictures with his fans.

The sudden announcement about the meeting had triggered speculation on whether the actor would be once again pursuaded to take the political plunge, a demand which he has been resisting.

The fans have been urging the actor to join politics for the past several years, even as some political parties have tried to woo him in view of his mass appeal.

The last such meeting was held in 2009, post his 'Sivaji' success.

Though the outspoken actor has been shying away from making any concrete announcement on his political entry, he had not minced words in 1996, when he said "Tamil Nadu cannot be saved even by God," while referring to the law and order situation under the then AIADMK government, headed by the late J Jayalalithaa.

He had also expressed support to the DMK-TMC (Tamil Maanila Congress) combine then, which swept the polls riding on a strong anti-incumbency wave.

To a question on his current venture "2.0", a sequel to his earlier hit "Enthiran," Rajinikanth said post-production work was underway. It was slated for a 2017 Diwali release.