[Last edited: January 5, 2024] Actress Rambha was in her early 20s when she acted in a supporting role in Rajinikanth lead Arunachalam (1997), director Sundar C's adaptation of the comedic novel Brewster's Millions. Rambha was simultaneously working in Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil film industry at that time, and Arunachalam marked her first collaboration with a big star like Rajinikanth in Kollywood. 

After an illustrious career that is fondly remembered to date, Rambha went dormant in Tamil films in 2010, but was active in the Tamil TV industry until 2017. After a gap, the popular actress was seen giving an extensive interview to a Tamil YouTube channel called Cineulagam. Rambha's recollection of her Arunachalam days, in particular stories about Rajinikanth is what has shocked the Tamil cine fans now. 

In a two-part interview (the third part is yet to release), Rambha mentions Rajinikanth more than once but not all times is it a fond look-back. In the first part, Rambha mentions that post the blockbuster success of her Tamil debut as a lead - the 1996 Sundar C directorial Ullathai Allitha, a huge crowd of people and press were waiting for her at the airport which she initially mistook it as a crowd gathering for Rajinikanth. Rajinikanth was one of the actors to call her and appreciate her performance for Ullai Allitha. When the interviewer asks if she remembers what they spoke, Rambha says,

"Rajini sir called me. imagine. I didn't know what to speak. I remember saying (to Rajinikanth), 'thank you sir, thank you sir. I want to act with you sir.' And he said 'oh for sure, for sure. we'll do a movie together'. He said 'you did well (in Ullathai Allitha)' and kept the phone (down)." 

 

In the second part of this interview series, which was uploaded to YouTube on December 27, 2023 [Saturday], Rambha opens up about two-three incidents on the sets of Arunachalam (1997), which marked her reunion with Sundar C, and her first time collaboration with Rajinikanth. These Rajinikanth stories have shocked the Tamil cine fans, as they come across as incidents where an upcoming actress was put in a very uncomfortable situation by Rajinikanth. 

Revealing that her role was initially meant for Sushmita Sen, Rambha while recalling her Arunachalam experience said, "I was ready for shooting at 7 AM first day at Hyderabad but Sundar C told me that it was rest day for me. For 3 days I was only resting. I got so pissed off. On the 4th day, I asked Sundar C if I was there in the film or not and that I'll ask Rajini Sir. He (Rajinikanth) told me I'm acting in this movie...Sundar C said I had shooting the next day at 7 AM. I went for my shot all ready at 6: 55 but Rajini Sir was already waiting there in full make up. At that time I went and said 'Good Morning Sir', and that is when he told me this role was meant for Sushmita Sen but it came from her to me. I was like 'wow such a big actress' role has come to me'."  

Rambha further adds, "I was so happy (to be acting with Rajinikanth). I had a target (to act with) Rajini Sir, Kamal Sir. So when (the dream to act with) Rajini Sir was completed/ticked, I was happy. We all enjoyed. All of my staff celebrated." However when asked about the reception she received to the blockbuster Arunachalam, Rambha instead recalled an incident from Arunachalam shooting and said,

"I should tell this incident. When I was doing the film (Arunachalam) with Rajini Sir, I was doing Bandhan (1998) with Salman Khan.  Because I was shooting with Rajini Sir at Hyderabad, that (Bandhan) team also kept shooting at Hyderabad. So mornings I was (filming) with Rajini Sir, from afternoon I was at Bandhan (shooting)...One day Salman Khan, Jackie Shroff (Rambha's Bandhan co-stars) came to the (Arunachalam) set to greet Rajini Sir because (he's a) big hero...When I saw them, I went and hugged since that is the Bombay culture. Rajini Sir noticed this...

 

After they left post greeting and speaking with Rajini Sir and Sundar C, I noticed a serious discussion going on. I saw Rajini Sir throwing the towel from around his neck down in anger, and was saying something (in a foul mood). Sundar C kept pleading to Rajini Sir but was also looking at me constantly. I was confused and thought Sundar C looking at me was a coincidence. But then cameraman (UK Senthil Kumar) came to me and said, 'what is this Rambha, what did you do'. I still thought they were pulling my legs since Sundar C and gang are like that only. 

 

When my staff asked what happened, they said (Rajini) Sir is upset because of you. I was thinking what did I do since I came (to set) on time, spoke all the (Tamil) dialogues correctly, and did not consume too many additional takes. My mum even asked if I did something wrong...I got so confused and started crying. 'He (Rajinikanth) said he won't act with you' (was what the on set people told Rambha). I started crying so badly that he (Rajinikanth) came running, said 'Why are you making this child cry' and reprimanded everyone. I told him 'Sir I didn't do anything'.

 

After I relaxed, I asked him 'Sir what happened?'. Rajini Sir called everyone from the unit and lined them up. (He said) 'In the morning, when Salman Khan and everyone came, how did Rambha go and hug them? But when she comes to our set usually, she goes good morning sir good morning sir'. He acted like me and showed. (Rajinikanth also said) 'So they are North heroes so you will do all that but since we are from the South, do you think we are lesser? So you will say good morning sir, good morning sir and go and read your book is it?'. He made a gallata (a huge chaos). I had never seen Rajini sir like that..He said 'from tomorrow make all the light boys stand, Rambha has to give (hug) the same way (to) everybody. Only then will there be shooting. Otherwise no'..Sundar C too kept being an yes man here... and everyone else kept oiling this fire too.. I was like 'so mean (Rajinikanth) sir'. But I got too scared that day. I had never seen Rajini Sir like that, he's a good actor (laughs).' 

 

I became normal after that. And he used to make fun of Soundarya and me, crack jokes at/with us. Sometimes when we have to wait for a shot, and there is a single stool, Soundarya (late) and I used to share it for sitting. He (Rajinikanth) used to take it from (beneath) us, he used to make fun of us like that but again he'll hold us and not let us fall or get hurt. He also used to say 'Soundarya looks very smart but is innocent, this one - looking at me, he used to say looks innocent but is extremely smart.' 

 

After narrating this incident, Rambha finally responds to the interviewer's question which was about the response she received for Arunachalam. "Everybody said 'why Rajini sir didn't marry you (in the movie)'. They complained that the makers should have brought another Rajini. Actually it was there. (A different version of Arunachalam) climax had another Rajini sir coming on a horse, Sundar C had this version in mind but later on since it felt outdated, was not kept. It was supposed to be another Rajini from village who retrieved my purse once again..But because of the sacrifice (of the other Rajini) only, my character (Nandhini) was remembered by all." 

When asked if Rambha has spoken to Rajinikanth lately, the actress said, "I haven't spoken to Rajinikanth since my marriage (in 2010). For my marriage only, his wife (Latha Rajinikanth) and everyone wished me, he sent a saree, a picture of Raghavendra,..because his daughter's marriage (Soundarya Rajinikanth's first wedding) also happened around the same time. I never met him after that." 

The interview then steers topic towards Rambha working with Kamal Haasan. Rambha post speaking about incidents that come across as problematic from Rajinikanth's end, praises Rajinikanth unprompted here."One should learn what passion for acting is from Kamal Haasan. See I've seen Rajini Sir. Rajini Sir is one kind of knowledge, Kamal Sir is one kind of knowledge. You can't compare them both but they both are two pillars for the Tamil film industry. Even if one of these two pillars shake, there is no industry. So that way I'm lucky to work with both of them."   

In another instance of unprompted mention of Rajinikanth, Rambha while answering a question about her dancing skills unleashes a revealition which paints 45 year old Rajini in an extremely bad light. To premise, Rambha steered from speaking about how dance became a significant part of her film career identity, to speaking about how the industry used to function back in her days. The actress said, 

"When we started a film's shooting, we used to go as a family, including lightmen, including dancers, everyone. We used to sit together and eat. I still remember during the shooting of Arunachalam, the lights went off all of a sudden during one afternoon. After the lights went off, something happened (makes face as if she's recollecting her thoughts). Somebody pat me on the back (points to her shoulders), and I screamed. Lights came back on and there was a big discussion as to who touched Rambha (unsolicited)...These kind of jokes were played. Then we came to know it was Rajini sir who did it. He used to do like that...There was a lightman who had tattooed my name on his forearm...This was told to me by Rajini Sir...But I came to know Rajini Sir is jolly like this so I didn't believe him. The way he spoke also was like that. (mimics Rajinikanth's animated moves to support this claim). (So) I never trusted. But then it turned out to be true. There was a lightman who had tattooed my name in Tamil with a red rose and he used to offer (wheat) halwa to my portrait at his house everyday." 

//Update:January 5, 2024// A previous version of this article did not contain the mention that Rambha was pointing to her shoulders, when she spoke of getting tapped on her back.