Rajini returns from the Himalayas

By: Settu Shankar
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Superstar Rajinikanth has been returned to Chennai after his annual Himalayan pilgrimage. Every year Rajini visits the Himalayas and stays there for more than a month. This time he was there for 38 days. Once there he visits the caves of his Guru Babaji without fail every year.

According to Rajini, the Himalayan pilgrimage keeps him freshness both mentally and physically. He says that he feels like he is reborn after returning from the pilgrimage. The early years of his life before he made it big in films were spent in the Himalayas. This year, he had been started his annual visit on April 30th. He first visited Badrinath, known for its temples. He followed that up with visits to Rishikesh and Kedharnath.

He visited the caves and plains where his Guru Babaji has spent his days in meditation. His pilgrimage ended in the holy caves of Guru Babaji, which is located in a dense forest region in the Himalayas. After 'freshening" up and full of enthusiasm, he returned back to Chennai.

It can be remembered here that the superstar has already promised his fans that he'd return from his pilgrimage by the time Shivaji is to be released. In keeping with his promise, he had arrived in the city much before the films June 15th release. Two of his very close friends accompanied during his Himalayan Visit.

When he came back, there was a special screening of Shivaji arranged by AVM for its hero the evergreen Superstar Rajini on Friday in the evening at the AVM premises. The actor enjoyed the film in its final form after the editing has been done.

Shivaji is the first ever Indian movie, which has been in the news for over two years previous to its actual release. The figure of the films budget can stunned - 85 crores (including Rajini's almost fair share of 25 crores. Rajinikanth is the only Asian actor to be paid so much for a film.

After his return from the Himalayas, the superstar asked to watch the film before its formal release. M.S Guhan, the joint Managing Director and one of the producers from AVM Productions, arranged a special screening of the film for the films hero in the campus. Also with him was his wife Latha, daughters Aishwarya and Soundarya and his son in law Dhanush.

After watched the movie, the Super Star used only one word to accolade the work of the technicians including director Shankar, who is in Canada at the moment - 'Fantastic'!