Mumbai: An ardent fan of Rajinikanth sparked an online debate by paying an unusual tribute to the South superstar ahead of Maha Shivratri.
Madurai resident Karthik performed a special puja by pouring milk on Rajinikanth’s image, which featured the actor as Lord Shiva.
According to Karthik, this was the third consecutive year he had conducted Shivratri puja in this manner.
To mark the actor’s 50-year journey in cinema, he also placed a garland made of 500 vadais on the image.
The video quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from social media users.
Several users questioned the appropriateness of equating an actor with a deity, especially during Maha Shivratri, a sacred festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
While some called the act “cringe”, others believed that it was “nonsense” and even Rajinikanth himself would not approve of such gestures.
One wrote, “Omg. So many f***ls are there here. Even Rajini will laugh seeing it.”
Another user said, “I am sure Thalaivar @rajinikanth will not approve this cringe stuff.”
“Nonsense,” read one comment.
Another netizen commented, “Look at what they’ve gone and done to him! Brutal”.
One person wrote, “Behave yourselves, people…. See a human only as a human.”
“What the heck is this,” wondered one user.
Another wrote, “This should never be encouraged at any time.”
View this post on Instagram
Rajinikanth was last seen in ‘Coolie’, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.
The film, which also starred Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, Sathyaraj, Rachita Ram, Upendra, and Aamir Khan, released on August 14 and crossed Rs 500 crore worldwide.
Rajinikanth is set to reunite with Kamal Haasan for ‘Thalaivar 173’, to be directed by Cibi Chakaravarthi after Sundar C exited the project.
