Longevity in show business is a tricky milestone.
For Indian superstar Rajinikanth, 50 years in films isn't just about survival - it's about an unbroken reign, turning cinemas into temples and audiences into devotees. Most of his work has been in the thriving Tamil-language film industry, where his films have defined generations.
In 1975, a young Shivaji Rao Gaekwad - soon to be known to the world as Rajinikanth - walked on to a Madras (now Chennai) film set for Apoorva Raagangal, debuting in a brief but memorable role as a swaggering rake.
Nearly five decades and 170 films on, Rajinikanth's new film, Coolie, released on 14 August. It celebrates his journey with a story that, in parts, mirrors his own life. He plays a working-class hero taking on a wealthy, oppressive villain.
The 74-year-old superstar is a phenomenon - worshipped in temples built for him, his image carried on airplanes during film promotions, and adored in distant Japan with the passion usually reserved for local idols.
