Superstar Rajinikanth was Honoured With The Padma Vibhushan Award

Superstar Rajinikanth on Tuesday said the highly anticipated upcoming Tamil gangster drama Kabali, which happens to be the star actor's 161st film, will hit the silver screen worldwide in the month of May or June. Talking to reporters here in Chennai before leaving to New Delhi, the 65-year-old actor said the film will release in the last week of May or early June.

"Kabali might release in the last week of May or early June," Rajinikanth said, before boarding the flight to Delhi where he was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan.

Rajinikanth plays a menacing gangster in the film, directed by Pa Ranjith of Attakathi and Madras fame. The Enthiran actor's character in Kabali is tipped to be inspired from a real life don named Kabaleeshwaran. The film also stars Radhika Apte, Dinesh, Dhansikaa, Kishore and Kalaiarasan among others in prominent roles. It is bankrolled by 'Kalaipuli' S Thanu.

Meanwhile, the actor was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, by President Pranab Mukherjee at a glittering ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Looking dapper in a beige kurta teamed with a grey Nehru jacket, Rajinikanth was accompanied by his wife Latha Rajinikanth.

Many of his colleagues and well-wishers from the Tamil film industry had wished him on his award. His son-in-law Dhanush had tweeted, "At every given point in his life he reached such gr8 heights wid his hardwork, perseverance nd humility. #deserved."

Music director Anirudh wrote, "#PadmavibhushanRajiniரஜினிरजनि From bus conductor to
#PadmaVibhushan.. Miracles do happen! Forever #Thalaivar."

Along with Rajinikanth, many other celebrities from different field of expertise were honoured. While SS Rajamouli and Priyanka Chopra received the Padma Shri, Sania Mirza and playback singer Udit Narayan were honoured with the Padma Bhushan Award.