Rajini declines to comment on women's safety in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Superstar of Tamil Cinema, Rajinikanth, however, exhibited a different side recently over a question by a journalist on women’s safety in the state. The star declined to respond to the query and said that he had already asked not to ask him political questions.

In a video featuring the incident, the actor could be seen walking away after declining to make a statement, The Indian Express reported.

The actor was posed with the question in the context of a student being sexually assaulted at Anna University in the state capital, Chennai.

The incident happened when he appeared at the Chennai airport recently. Fans and journalists surrounded him there, and he spoke about the progress of his latest film in production, Coolie. He said that 70 per cent of the shoot is complete, and a new schedule is planned from January 13 to 28.

But, when a journalist asked about the women’s safety in the state, the actor interrupted, saying, “I have already said not to ask me political questions, ok? Thank you.”

Rajini had plans to launch a political party for a long, and when everybody was expecting that he was about to announce its launch in 2020, he declared that he would not be entering politics. His entry into politics was a subject of national fascination for decades, TIE reports. He cited health concerns as the reason to drop his political venture.

He had commented on public issues such as the Kaveri River water dispute, the Hogenakkal Falls water project, the Thoothukudi violence and others. His comments garnered criticism, too.