Rajini fans in city pray for their idol

The wave of anxiety that is radiating across the country over the health of Tamil superstar Rajinikanth has not spared Mumbai either. Concern is palpable in areas like Matunga and Dharavi that are home to a sizeable population of Tamilians.


However, no pujas or ceremonies for Rajini Sir's welfare have been conducted in Mumbai—for a reason. Proactive fans, who were vacationing in their native villages, have taken adetour to Chennai where their idol has been hospitalized. They are keeping vigil outside the Sri Ramachandra medical centre and attending prayers.

Unlike Chennai, which reveres the actor to the point of idolatry, Mumbai's expression of love is somewhat restrained. The exception is Aurora cinema hall in Matunga. The theatre is a semi-permanent shrine to Rajinikanth where fans perform 'abhishek' of his posters with milk and panchamrit whenever a film is released. "To this day we have hoisted a cutout of Robot although the film was taken down long ago," says Aurora's owner Nambi Rajan who holds singular status as Rajinikanth fan. "We have pledged to remove it only after Rajini Sir sees it in person." Rajan assures that the actor's condition is stable and there is no cause for worry.

The joke goes that it was Chennai's invincible hero who killed the Dead Sea so how can harm befall him. Yet, aware that any slip could stoke passions , the actor's family and hospital sources have been releasing calibrated information on his health.

Along Dharavi's 90-ft Road, every bit of news on the actor is being closely tracked. Tea stalls, sari shops, farsan stores are all armed with the latest emerging from Chennai, whether it be Monday's hospital visit by Narendra Modi and Chandrababu Naidu, or special prayers being held across all major temples in the state.

Anand Raj, the president of the Maharashtra wing of the official Rajinikanth fan club, runs a Tamil video library in Dharavi. He is currently camping in Chennai. Anand relates how all of Tamil Nadu is praying for Rajini. "Dignitaries like Modi and Naidu visited the hospital after attending the swearing-in of chief minister Jayalalithaa ," he says.

Neither Matunga nor Dharavi wish to turn to negative thought. Each believes that a few days of rest will bring the actor back on his feet to release his biggest blockbuster Ranain January next year.