Rajinikanth criticized for his ‘body-shaming’ remarks about Amir Khan, Soubin

New Delhi: Superstar Rajinikanth's choice of words in a speech at the audio launch of his movie ‘Coolie’ has the actor caught in a roiling controversy, NDTV reported.

While describing his co-stars, Rajanikanth called leading Bollywood actor Aamir Khan ‘short’ and Malayalam actor Soubin Shahir ‘bald’.

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, this is Rajinikanth's 171st film fearing Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Upendra, Soubin Shahir and Sathyaraj in key roles.

Produced by Kalanithi Maran's Sun Pictures, the movie has Aamir Khan in a cameo appearance.

Opening up about his experience during shooting, Rajinikanth said that he doubted working with Soubin Shahir as he had not seen the Malayalam actor’s movies before.

Rajanikath said: “I asked Lokesh, 'Who is Soubin? Which films has he acted in?' He mentioned 'Manjummel Boys', where Soubin played a key role”.

However, the director asked the Rajanikanth not to worry about it but join the setting the third day of shooting, ‘He was busy filming Soubin's portions on the first two. When I finally arrived, he showed me Soubin's scenes, and I was blown away. What an actor! Hats off!’.

While praising him, Rajinikanth called Soubin ‘bald’ stirring up the social media with many terming it as body shaming.

When the director broke the news of casting Amir Khan in the movie, Rajinikanth said he was thinking ‘Aamir Khan would take two whole years just to okay a script. How many years will it take for him to make a film? Such a perfectionist’.

Following which he added, irking the internet ‘Just like Kamal Haasan, he is the one in the North. There's Salman Khan on one side and Shah Rukh Khan on their other. He stands tall among them all despite being short. What a legend! A legend! My salute to you, Sir.’

His choice of the word ‘short’ to describe the actor drew criticism with one user on X saying that ‘Imagine if words like these came from someone like Chiranjeevi, Balayya (Nandamuri Balakrishna), Mohanlal or Amitabh Bachchan, would these people have left them without questioning? Entire cinephiles would've roasted them for at least a week. The privilege Rajini enjoys is definitely something else’.

Another user wrote: ‘Saying Soubin as bald imagine if this was said by some other person on Rajini. Yesterday speech was the worst among all.’