Sreengrab taken from YouTube, superstar Rajinikanth talks about the current political scenario in Tamil Nadu and dispelled speculation that he tried to broker a deal between DMK and AIADMK.
Tamil film superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday (May 17, 2026) dispelled speculation that he tried to broker a deal between DMK and AIADMK in the wake of the fractured mandate in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. He also made it clear he does not envy actor-turned Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s success.Addressing journalists at his Poes Garden residence in Chennai, Rajinikanth said the Dravidian parties have been in power for 60 years, there was perhaps a need for a change and Mr. Vijay was in the right place to bring that change.“After the results, I met [former Chief Minister] Stalin sir as he had lost in Kolathur and we have been friends. He has been my friend for the last 35-40 years. But this has resulted in criticism that I tried to broker a deal between two big parties. I am not a person who would stoop so low. I would like to clarify that,” he said.Rajinikanth asked how he could harbour envy against Mr. Vijay when there is a big generation gap between them.“Vijay and I have almost 20-25 years age difference. His achievement is better than what NTR [N T Rama Rao, yesteryear actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister] and MGR [M.G. Ramachandran, actor-turned former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister] did. He has won against a powerful central government and against two big Dravidian parties,” he said.“When I am not in politics, why should I envy him (Vijay),” Rajinikanth wondered. According to him, Mr Vijay should be given a period of two years (to prove himself in his new role). Published - May 17, 2026 11:26 am IST
