Rajnikant-Shatrughan Sinha are health buddies

Very shortly, Rajnikant will fly down to Mumbai specially to meet his friend, confidante and self-proclaimed inspiration Shatrughan Sinha. The relations of the two stylized star-actors go back a long way in the period of which they have kept tabs on each other’s health very closely during the period of their respective illnesses. They worked together only once, 26 years ago in K C Bokadia’s Asli Naqli, the title which is ironical because shotgun and the Tamil superstar are seen by their respective fan clubs as spitting images of one another in terms of their acting style. Kaun asli kaun naqli depends entirely on whether the fan is from the North or South. Ever since they came together in Asli Naqli, Rajnikant and Shatrughan Sinha have remained close friends monitoring one another’s moves with brotherly care. In the last two years ever since Rajnikant fell ill, the two supremos of stylized acting have been closely monitoring each other’s health. Says a source close to Rajnikant, “First, it was Rajni Sir who fell ill. Then Mr Sinha.T hroughout one another’s hospitalization, they’ve been keeping close bedside vigil by phone through the wives of the two.” Rajnikant has apparently gone many steps further than simple curious concern. Based on his own health history during his illness and healing, he has given the Bihari babu vital pointers on post-illness diet and regimen. Says a source close to Shatrughan Sinha, “Since Shatruji’s hospitalization. Rajni Sir has been religiously ringing up from Chennai and asking Mrs Sinha about his health. And it’s not just about the two actors being old colleagues and friends. Rajni Sir feels a close empathy for Mr Sinha because of their sudden health issues that landed both of them in hospital.” Now we hear Rajnikant would be flying down to Mumbai in the next week or so to specially meet his asli-naqli friend. Confirming his close affinity and the Southern icon’s very private proposed visit to Mumbai to spend time with his friend, a source very close friend to Shatrughan Sinha said, “Both Rajni and Shatru are Sagittarians. Rajni calls Shatru his Guru because Rajni watched all of Shatru’s films when Rajni was a newcomer. Rajni has watched Shatru in Rampur Ka Lakshman 36 times to get a full grip on the mannerisms and gestures of the star in the role. The two are very close to one another. Rajni was waiting for Shatru to come home from hospital. He will now be flying down to spend some time with the actor.”