Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Thursday paid homage to veteran producer R B Choudary, who died in a car accident in Udaipur, Rajasthan on Tuesday, and revealed that the prolific filmmaker had recently approached him with a final professional wish. Speaking to the media in Chennai, Rajinikanth disclosed that Choudary — who had produced 99 films over his career — had asked the superstar to headline his centennial project before retiring from the industry.

The 100th film proposal

According to Rajinikanth, Choudary visited him approximately four months ago while he was filming Jailer 2 at Aditya Ram Studios. "He said, 'I have made 99 films. After completing 100 films, I wish to retire. You need to act in my 100th film. I have two or three stories. You must listen to them and definitely do this film,'" Rajinikanth recalled. The superstar confirmed his commitment, saying, "I had told him that I would do it a 100 per cent."

A legacy of filmmaking excellence

Rajinikanth underscored Choudary's remarkable track record, noting that across 99 productions, the producer had maintained an unblemished record free of disputes or complications. "Even if such a problem arose, he would go to the residence of the person causing the problem and ask what he could do to resolve it, and resolve the issue directly with that person," Rajinikanth said, illustrating the producer's pragmatic and interpersonal approach to conflict resolution.

Choudary's philosophy and impact

Rajinikanth reflected on conversations with Choudary about his sustained happiness and health. The producer attributed his contentment to disciplined limits: "I won't take any risk. I know my limits, I will make movies only within those limits. After making a movie, I will leave it to God's hands. I will keep moving on to the next project. What did we bring to take it back?" This philosophy, Rajinikanth suggested, underpinned Choudary's longevity and influence in Tamil cinema.

A creator of talent

Director K S Ravikumar had recently approached Rajinikanth to advocate for honouring Choudary's contributions to the industry. "R B sir had created several directors," Rajinikanth noted, emphasizing that Choudary had not only produced films but had launched directorial careers and provided employment to countless technicians over decades. "He has saved the industry," Rajinikanth added.

Grief and legacy

Rajinikanth expressed deep sorrow at Choudary's untimely death in the Udaipur car crash, describing it as a profound loss to Tamil cinema. Though the two had never collaborated on screen, Rajinikanth emphasized the depth of their personal bond and Choudary's standing as a transformative figure in the film industry.