Tamil superstar Rajinikanth now joins the long list of southern filmstars who has taken the political plunge.

With his Sunday announcement, Rajini ended over two decades of suspense about his political entry.
Rajini also declared a new party ahead of the next Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2021. He said his party would field candidates for all seats.
Rajinikanth rode to stardom with his unique acting style that cast a spell on people cutting across obstacles, and has come a long way from a humble beginning to his much delayed political plunge.
Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, rechristened Rajinikanth on screen, is all set to unveil his new theme of spiritual politics as he seeks to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious seniors in the industry such as MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, who rose to rule the state after Successful film career.
His political plunge comes at a time when Tamil Nadu is passing through a state of flux with the death of Jayalalithaa last year and wheelchair-bound nonagenarian DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's virtual retirement owing to age-related issues.

Born on December 12, 1950, to Ramabai and Ramoji Rao Gaekwad couple in Karnataka, Rajinikanth tried his hand at several odd jobs before landing as a bus conductor.
To chase his dream of acting, he had quit as a conductor in then Bangalore Transport Service's "10 A" bus route.
K. Balachander, credited with introducing many actors who made it big in filmdom.
He made his celluloid debut in 1975 in Tamil film "Apoorva Ragangal", a family drama directed by Balachander who gave him the screen name Rajinikanth.
In his very first appearance, Rajinikanth exhibited some uniqueness in doing even the most mundane things like opening a gate with his leg while smoking a cigar, indicating he was a star to reckon with.
He gained immense popularity with his unique style which included popping cigarettes into his mouth with ease and one-liners such as "Idhu eppadi irukku" (How is it?) In his formative years film "16 Vayadhinile".
After starting with negative images, Rajinikanth was exploded into Tamil film world as his potential as a hero came to the surface a few years later.
His fan following kept the 'milk bath' of his life-size cutouts and bursting of crackers became synonymous with his films most of which went on to become box office hits.
A Padma Vibushan Award, a honour he received last year, Rajinikanth has got his credit over 150 films, including some in Hindi and Telugu.
If the films like 'Billa', 'Aarilrundhu Arubathu Varai' and 'Murattu Kaalai,' (during his formative first ten years dramatically improved both his performance and rating as a top hero, later flicks like 'Padayappa', 'Annamalai' Arunachalam, 'helped him become the ultimate' superstar '.
Notably "Muthu" became a hit even in Japan bringing Nipponese fans.
Rajinikanth's recent super hit films include 'Kabali', 'Endhiran', 'Chandramukhi', and 'Shivaji the Boss'.
The cult image he had developed over the years gave his die-hard fans his political foray though he appeared to be reluctant to know that not all matinee idols replicated in their reel success in politics.
Shankar Ganesan's debut in politics turned out to be a nightmare as he was trounced in his home in Thanjavur District in 1989.
Many of Rajinikanth's later films were sprinkled with "punch dialogues", apparently aimed at the masses.
A dialogue in one of his films "Muthu" (1995) which translated "none can predict when and how I will come, but will arrive at the right time" became a rage and further fuelled hopes of his fans.
Rajinikanth's other famous punchlines, including "An Vazhi thani vazhi" (my way is a unique, separate way) (Padayappa), "Andavan solran Arunachalam Seiyaran (God directs me, I do it, - Arunachalam) contributed immensely to his mass appeal.
For the first time, he had a taste of politics when he famously voiced his opposition to Jayalalithaa in 1996 and correspondingly supporting the then DMK-led coalition which took power in the state that year.
Although the actor's opposition to Jayalalithaa was hyped by his fans as a prime factor for the DMK's victory in the hustings in 1996, his declaration that he will vote for the BJP-led front in 2004 Parliamentary polls did not have any bearing.
Rainikanth had said his move to support the front was based on an assurance given by the National Democratic Alliance that it would strive for linking all the rivers.
A spiritually inclined person, Rajinikanth has survived a serious ailment in 2011, which he referred to in his prayers to God he was alive.
Despite Rajinikanth's stature, he is not opposition in Tamil Nadu. Fringe pro-Tamil outfits, oppose h