Long before he became one of India’s biggest film stars and earned the title “Thalaivar,” Rajinikanth was a young bus conductor in Bengaluru earning just Rs 275 a month. A decades-old identity card that recently resurfaced online has given fans a glimpse into the superstar’s humble beginnings and reminded many of the extraordinary journey behind his success.
The viral identity card, issued by the Bangalore Transport Service (BTS) in 1971, carries Rajinikanth’s birth name, Shivaji Rao Gaikwad. The document shows him working as a bus conductor on Bengaluru’s Route No. 10A. While the card itself is a fascinating piece of history, it is the monthly salary mentioned on it — Rs 275 — that has captured the imagination of fans across social media.
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Today, Rajinikanth is among the most recognisable faces in Indian cinema, commanding massive pay cheques and enjoying a fan following that stretches far beyond India’s borders. The contrast between his modest salary in 1971 and his current status as a cinematic icon has made the old ID card a symbol of perseverance and hard work.
Before entering films, Rajinikanth spent his early years working various jobs, including as a carpenter and coolie, before joining the transport service. His life took a dramatic turn when he enrolled at the Madras Film Institute, where his talent was noticed by legendary filmmaker K. Balachander.
Balachander cast him in the 1975 film Apoorva Raagangal, marking the beginning of a remarkable acting career. What followed was one of the most inspiring success stories in Indian entertainment. Over the next five decades, Rajinikanth transformed himself into a cultural phenomenon known for his distinctive style, charisma and larger-than-life screen presence.
The resurfaced BTS identity card is more than just an old employment document. For millions of admirers, it is a reminder that every success story starts somewhere. More than 50 years after it was issued, the card continues to inspire fans by showing that determination and ambition can take a person from the conductor’s seat of a city bus to the pinnacle of Indian cinema.
For Rajinikanth, the journey from earning Rs 275 a month to becoming India’s beloved “Thalaivar” remains one of the industry’s most remarkable stories.
