Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Rajinikanth Keeps Leading Action Films as He Ages
Rajinikanth is 75, but he still plays the main action hero in films.
In the Jailer 2 trailer, he is a grandfather who fights villains and uses a machine gun.
The article says many older actors are often given roles as wise fathers or mentors.
It compares Rajinikanth’s choices with Amitabh Bachchan, who took more older-man roles over time.
Rajinikanth has continued to lead action movies instead.
The writer says this shows that an older actor can still be the centre of an exciting action story.
The article suggests this could give other ageing action stars more choices.
It celebrates Rajinikanth’s distinctive screen style.
At 75, Rajinikanth stars as an action-ready grandfather in the Jailer 2 trailer.
The article argues that Rajinikanth has continued to headline action spectacles rather than shift primarily to mentor or patriarch roles.
It contrasts his screen path with Amitabh Bachchan’s transition from the Angry Young Man to older patriarch and mentor characters.
Films cited as examples of Rajinikanth’s enduring action-hero roles include Robot, Kaala and Jailer.
The writer says Rajinikanth’s career offers another possibility for ageing action stars, including Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn.
- Who
- Rajinikanth, as discussed by the article’s writer.
- What
- An opinion piece argues that he continues to lead action spectacles as he ages, rather than moving mainly into mentor or patriarch roles.
- When
- The article discusses Rajinikanth at 75 and refers to the Jailer 2 trailer; no publication date is provided.
- Where
- Indian cinema, including Hindi and Tamil film industries discussed in the article.
- Why
- The writer argues that Rajinikanth demonstrates older actors can remain action heroes and that Indian cinema should allow more such roles.
Retire into older roles
Continue as action heroes
How ageing male stars should be cast
Retire into older roles
The article describes an industry pattern in which older male stars increasingly play patriarchs, mentors and wise older men.
Continue as action heroes
The writer argues that Rajinikanth shows older actors can remain the centre of action spectacles without pretending to be young.
Assessing stylised action
Retire into older roles
Some current debates question whether action films promote violence or how their action sequences serve their themes.
Continue as action heroes
The writer says Rajinikanth’s exaggerated action is best appreciated as part of his distinctive screen style, rather than analysed in the same way.
- Rajinikanth’s age
- 75, according to the article.
- Current trailer discussed
- Jailer 2, in which Rajinikanth plays a grandfather who fights villains.
- Rajinikanth filmography examples
- Robot, Kaala and Jailer are cited as action-led roles.
- Amitabh Bachchan comparison
- The article contrasts his early Angry Young Man image with later patriarch and mentor roles.
- Other stars mentioned
- Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Sunny Deol.
- Article’s central argument
- Older male stars need not be restricted to wise older-man roles; they can continue as action leads.