In the wake of criticism he faced for touching the feet of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, actor Rajinikanth has broken his silence on the matter. Last week, Rajinikanth greeted the UP CM with a namaste and then proceeded to touch his feet, a gesture that garnered mixed reactions on the internet.
Rajinikanth, after a few days, responded to the criticism that emerged on social media platforms for his actions during his meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the latter’s residence in Lucknow. Rajinikanth clarified that his gesture of touching the feet of Yogis or Sanyasis is a personal habit he follows.
Rajinikanth responds to row over him touching UP CM’s feet
Upon his return to Chennai on Monday night after a recent travel, Rajinikanth engaged in a brief interaction with members of the media outside the airport. Responding to inquiries about the controversy sparked by his action of touching the feet of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rajinikanth addressed the issue. He explained that he performed the gesture out of respect, as it is his personal practice to touch the feet of Yogis or Sanyasis and seek their blessings. He emphasized that he follows this tradition regardless of the age of the person and clarified, “I have done that only.”
Rajinikanth speaks about Jailer
Rajinikanth also discussed his film “Jailer,” expressing gratitude to the audience for contributing to its “grand success.” When questioned about his stance on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he declined to engage in a political discussion. In addition to his film-related remarks, during his trip to Uttar Pradesh, Rajinikanth arranged a dedicated screening of “Jailer.” This event was attended by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Furthermore, Rajinikanth had a meeting with Akhilesh Yadav, the Chief of the Samajwadi Party, at Yadav’s residence.
Rajinikanth’s meeting with UP CM last week
During the past week, Rajinikanth had an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Rajinikanth began the interaction with a respectful namaste gesture and proceeded to touch the Chief Minister’s feet. As a further gesture of goodwill, Rajinikanth presented a flower bouquet to Yogi Adityanath, and both of them posed for photographers. This event was widely captured in several videos and pictures that circulated across various social media platforms.
People’s reaction to Rajinikanth touching Adityanath’s feet
The video of Rajinikanth touching Yogi Adityanath’s feet elicited various reactions from people on social media, particularly on platforms like Twitter. Some expressed their dissatisfaction with the gesture, with one individual stating, “The biggest facepalm and cringefest video of the month.” Another tweet questioned the action, saying, “What a fall!! 72-year-old Rajinikanth touching the feet of 51-year-old Yogi Adityanath…” Someone else conveyed their surprise, writing, “This is shocking!”
On the other hand, there were individuals who defended Rajinikanth’s actions. One person commented on Twitter, “Don’t understand the hue and cry over superstar @rajinikanth touching the feet of @myogiadityanath. Apart from being a politician and chief minister of UP, Yogi ji is also an elevated Nath Yogi and the head of illustrious Gorakhnath Math. You bow to the lineage he represents!” Another supporter praised Rajinikanth, stating, “Amazing respect for culture shown by none other than Thalaiva.”
These varied responses reflect the diversity of opinions regarding the cultural and political implications of such gestures.
About movie Jailer
Rajinikanth’s latest film “Jailer” has achieved remarkable success at the box office. In a span of just 11 days since its release, the movie has garnered a worldwide box office collection of ₹5 billion. Trade analyst Ramesh Bala shared this update on X (formerly known as Twitter), highlighting that “Jailer” has now entered the ₹500 crore club in terms of gross earnings. This achievement marks Rajinikanth’s second film to accomplish such a feat, with his previous film “2.0” being the first.
The film “Jailer” features a stellar cast including Jackie Shroff, Mohanlal, Shivrajkumar, and Kishore in cameo appearances. The storyline revolves around a retired police officer who utilizes his connections with former inmates to rescue his son from the clutches of a gangster.
The substantial success of “Jailer” reflects its popularity among audiences and the lasting appeal of Rajinikanth’s films.
