'Superstar' Rajinikanth was the only Tamil actor to be invited to attend both the swearing in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu at Vijayawada. Along with Chandrababu Naidu, star actor turned politician Pawan Kalyan was also sworn in as the Deputy CM of the Telugu state.
The event was hence not just presided over by BJP stalwarts like PM Modi, Amit Shah and other politicians who align with the right wing, it was also a star-studded event with cinema names like Chiranjeevi (Pawan Kalyan's elder brother), Ram Charan (Chiranjeevi's son and Pawan Kalyan's nephew), Nandamuri Balakrishna, Rajinikanth and wife Latha Rajinikanth among others.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan, actor and Padma Vibhushan awardee Konidela Chiranjeevi, Actor Rajinikanth, Actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna and other Union Ministers and TDP leaders at the swearing-in ceremony of Andhra Pradesh CM N… pic.twitter.com/sM5CtDvZTp
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024
Rajinikanth's closeness to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu goes back a long time. Naidu's gesture of hence giving special treatment to Rajini on stage has since gone viral on social media.
சந்திரபாபு நாயுடு பதவியேற்பு விழாவில் நடிகர் ரஜினிகாந்த்#AndhraPradesh | #ChandraBabuNaidu | #OathCeremony | #Rajinikanth pic.twitter.com/ea0qWfRAC2
— PuthiyathalaimuraiTV (@PTTVOnlineNews) June 12, 2024
Venkaih Naidu and Amit Shah arrive at swearing-in ceremony.#NaraChandrababuNaidu #PawanKalyan pic.twitter.com/kDnt0vL1YA
— Gulte (@GulteOfficial) June 12, 2024
#Rajinikanth #Chiranjeevi #NandamuriBalakrishna on stage. pic.twitter.com/bpVqGIivXW
— Gulte (@GulteOfficial) June 12, 2024
The oath-taking ceremony shone even brighter today with the presence of our cinema legends. I thank Thalaivar @rajinikanth Garu, @KChiruTweets Garu, @AlwaysRamCharan Garu, and every superstar who graced the occasion. pic.twitter.com/ysolh7BU1F
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) June 12, 2024
At the event, Rajinikanth was also seen happily greeting Nandamuri Balakirshna and chatting up Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi who was seated beside Rajini. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP leader Amit Shah were other personalities seen greeting Rajini with big smiles at the event.