In a house in Poes Garden, Chennai, an ardent Rajinikanth fan from Singapore watches as her idol saunters into the living room wearing a warm, fatherly smile.
“Ambiga,” the 73-year-old actor addresses her in his deep, baritone voice.
Ms K.S. Ambiga, 41, laughs giddily in her wheelchair before greeting him with “Thalaiva” (“leader” in Tamil) and embracing him.
“So sweet, kanna,” Rajinikanth replies. They chat for 30 minutes during the unplanned meeting on Dec 16, the topic centering on Ms Ambiga’s decade-long battle with multiple sclerosis (MS).
She tells Rajinikanth, one of the most iconic movie stars in Indian cinema over the past 50 years and who has a cult following across South India, that she credits her resilience against MS to him.
The former counsellor is no ordinary fan. And she has a book to prove it.
Her recently published memoir, The Rajini In Me, was launched amid fanfare in Chennai on Dec 14. The 280-page book chronicles her battle with MS and how she embraced “the essence of Rajinism”, incorporating his philosophy and principles into her own life, and in turn becoming a beacon of inspiration to her peers.
“I was told that Thalaiva was aware of the book, and there would be a chance to meet him. I did not, however, expect it to be within such a short time,” she told tabla!
Friends in Singapore as well as cinema industry insiders who attended the book launch helped secure the meeting between the two.
Formerly a child artiste, Ambiga featured in local Tamil variety programmes such as Chinna Kannmanigal and Chikku Mangu in the 1980s and 90s. Later, while pursuing her passion in bharatanatyam, she became a counsellor to drug offenders at the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association.
Her life took a sharp turn in 2013, when she learnt she had MS, a chronic neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system. When progressively worsened over time, the condition results in multiple disabilities.
Ironically, doctors broke the news to her on Rajinikanth’s birthday – Dec 12. That very day, she watched the actor on TV give an acceptance speech for being one of the “25 Living Legends of India”.
“Miracles do happen. An ordinary bus conductor is a living legend,” the actor had said.
“Those words created a profound impact on me,” said Ms Ambiga.
In 2022, she underwent a stem-cell transplant, followed by chemotherapy. While quarantined for six months, she received a voice note from Rajinikanth – through her celebrity friends Hayma Malini and Yugendran Vasudevan – wishing her a speedy recovery.
“He spoke my name and conveyed his heartfelt wishes for my wellness… On that day, when I was feeling unwell and low, his message boosted my confidence unlike anything I ever experienced,” Ms Ambiga said.
“I was inspired to introspect and analyse myself to see what I can do to make the most out of my situation as a disabled person,” she added.
Ms Ambiga hopes her book will provide readers the impetus to find their own wellspring of motivation – or as she puts it: “Their own Rajini”.
“Even I am still finding my Rajini”, the actor told her during their meeting, as he handed her a set of rosary beads.
