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Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi, titans of Tamil and Telugu cinema, have long voiced their deep reverence for Amitabh Bachchan, the "megastar of the millennium."
Yet, it might come as a big surprise to many that it was another Hindi film legend who played a pivotal role in igniting the acting aspirations of these two South Indian icons.
In the biography "Anything But Khamosh - The Shatrughan Sinha Biography," Chiranjeevi revealed, "I became an actor because of Shatrughan Sinha."
He reminisced about how he used to watch Hindi films solely for the "Kaalicharan" star, stating, "Whenever a new Shatrughan Sinha film released, regardless of the role he played, I watched it with complete admiration. I went to see Hindi films only for Shatrughan; he was the main attraction for me."
Chiranjeevi recalled a film called "Sabak" in 1973, which many considered a disaster, yet he still watched it because Shatrughan Sinha starred in it. Even though he was disappointed, not due to the film's subject or Sinha's character, but because of the star's changed hairstyle.
"People would tell me that my eyes and facial features looked like his," Chiranjeevi remembered. "I think it was that constant comment which triggered the idea that I too could become an actor."
Mesmerized by Sinha's command over language, confidence, dominating body language, and expressive eyes, Chiranjeevi found himself drawn to the idea of acting.
He noted Sinha's influence on many actors, including himself, citing the legendary actor's mass appeal and mannerisms as significant inspirations.
Rajinikanth also acknowledged being a "great Shatrughan Sinha fan right from films like 'Do Yaar' in the seventies."
The iconic actor, famous for his swagger and style, revealed, "When I started out as an actor, I concentrated on being a stylised villain. The only stylised villain those days was Shatrughan Sinha, and I drew inspiration from his performances."
Rajinikanth recalled being fascinated by Sinha's mannerisms in films like "Do Yaar" and "Raampur Ka Lakshman," particularly noting how Sinha would casually flick a cigarette or nonchalantly look at his watch after hitting someone. "From that day onwards," Rajinikanth shared, "Shatrughan Sinha was my inspiration."
Their admiration for Sinha's style of acting was evident. Rajinikanth admitted to completely following Sinha's mannerisms and acting style in his early days, earning him the title of the "Shatrughan Sinha of the South" in the seventies.
Although Chiranjeevi never had the opportunity to work with his inspiration, Rajinikanth eventually shared the screen with Shatrughan Sinha in the 1986 hit "Asli Naqli."
The influence of the legendary Shatrughan Sinha on these iconic South Indian actors remains a testament to his lasting impact on Indian cinema.
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