Sarath Babu: The only actor who could slap Rajinikanth on screen without enraging fans

There are many stories of actors, who play villain roles, facing backlash from fans of the heroes. Actor Nambiar faced the wrath of fans of MG Ramachandran for beating up the superstar in films. The stories reflect the love the fans have for the actors. However, Sarath Babu was one actor who kind of enjoyed an exemption from this. Sarath could slap and hit Rajinikanth with a whip and still get away without enraging the latter’s fans because they really bought into the chemistry between the two stars.

Sarath Babu and Rajinikanth have acted in a handful of films together including Annamalai, Muthu, Mullum Malarum, Veliakkaran, and Netrikkan. Of all their collaborations Annamalai and Muthu are still regarded as the best films that brought out their friendship on screen. In Annamalai, Sarath played the iconic role named Ashok, a rich businessman, who is a dear friend of Annamalai (Rajinikanth), a milkman. Due to a land dispute, the two best friends end up as rivals, and in a scene, Ashok slaps Annamalai. The director of the film, Suresh Krishna came up to Sarath and said, “If it had been another actor, I would have asked him to be careful about the wrath they are going to face from fans of Rajinikanth. But I think they won’t have an issue if you do it.”

The actor in an interview with Cinema Express had said, “Even Nizhagal Ravi, a co-star in Annamalai, also said the same that I can only do it.”

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Similarly, in Muthu, Sarath Babu played a Zamindar named Raja and Rajinikanth was his charioteer, Muthu. When both end up falling in love with the same woman, Ranganayaki (Meena), Raja orders his servant to beat up Muthu.

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On top of the on and off-screen camaraderie between Rajinikanth and Sarath Babu, it was also the affable nature of the latter which earned him a lot of respect among fans then. Though Sarath has played the lead in numerous films, he is still remembered for the supporting and antagonist roles. In an interview, Sarath had said, “I just wanted to be an actor. I have done 40 films as a hero in both Tamil and Telugu. But these roles stick because of the script. You are talking about Annamalai after 30 years. That’s the reason (why I do these roles). These stays forever.”

With his demise, Telugu and Tamil cinema has lost another icon. Ashok and Zamindar will be remembered for decades to come.