Rajinikanth refuses to answer question on women’s safety in Tamil Nadu: ‘Don’t ask political questions’. Watch

Once just inches away from launching his own political party, superstar Rajinikanth now appears to have distanced himself from politics entirely. Incidentally, his current stance is such that he even refrains from addressing sociopolitical topics, including women’s safety. Now, a video of him, popularly referred to by his fans as “Thalaivar” (leader), declining to respond to a reporter’s question about women’s safety in Tamil Nadu has gone viral on social media and grabbed much attention since it follows closely on the heels of a recent case where a student was sexually assaulted at Anna University in Chennai.

When Rajinikanth was spotted at the Chennai airport recently, he was quickly surrounded by fans and journalists. Speaking about the progress of his upcoming film Coolie, which is currently in production, the actor revealed that 70 per cent of the shoot is complete, with a new schedule planned from January 13 to 28. However, when a journalist raised the subject of women’s safety in Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth interrupted, saying, “I have already said not to ask me political questions, ok?” He then walked away, avoiding further questions.

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Rajinikanth’s potential political entry had been a subject of national fascination for decades before he ultimately decided against venturing into the arena. Over the years, he has commented on public issues such as the Kaveri River water dispute, the Hogenakkal Falls water project and the Thoothukudi violence, among others, and faced criticism too.

In 2020, Rajinikanth had announced plans to launch his political party in January 2021, coinciding with the impending Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. However, just days before he was expected to reveal further details, he declared that he would not be entering politics due to health concerns, thus ending years of speculation.

Watch Rajinikanth declining to answer question on women’s safety here:

அரசியல் கேள்வி கேட்க வேண்டாம்னு ஏற்கனவே சொல்லியிருக்குறேன் …
Thank You …#Thalaivar #Superstar #Rajinikanth #Coolie pic.twitter.com/wI3TEGc3cL

— Rajnism 🤘 (@Rajinism3) January 7, 2025

Rajinikanth, who was last seen in director TJ Gnanavel’s Vettaiyan (2024), is currently working on Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie, which will hit the screens this year. The movie features a large ensemble comprising Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj and Shruti Haasan in key roles.