Rajinikanth admitted fear his Bollywood stint could echo Kamal Haasan’s, says producer KC Bokadia

Veteran film producer KC Bokadia told The Indian Express that Rajinikanth, the iconic Tamil actor, had privately expressed concern that his attempts to establish a foothold in Bollywood could follow a trajectory similar to fellow South Indian star Kamal Haasan. Rajinikanth, who rose to fame with blockbusters such as "Enthiran" and "Baasha", has appeared in a handful of Hindi films over the years, but none have matched his dominance in the South. Bokadia said the superstar feared that, despite his massive fan base, the Hindi‑film market might not embrace him as readily as it did Kamal Haasan, whose Bollywood ventures have seen mixed commercial outcomes. The producer added that Rajinikanth’s apprehension was shared among industry insiders who closely watch the crossover attempts of South Indian actors. While the legend continues to enjoy unparalleled popularity in Tamil cinema, his Hindi projects remain limited, underscoring the challenges of translating regional stardom into nationwide box‑office success.