(This article is authored by Alar)

Superstar Rajinikanth, who is basking in the success of his latest blockbuster Jailer, has expressed his gratitude to his fans and the people of the world for their love and support. He also revealed why he touched the feet of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his visit to Lucknow last week.

Rajinikanth, who is known for his humility and respect for elders, said that he has a habit of touching the feet of yogis or sanyasis, regardless of their age, and seeking their blessings. He said that he did the same with Yogi Adityanath, who is also the chief priest of the Gorakhnath temple. 

The actor’s act of touching Yogi Adityanath’s feet had sparked a debate on social media, with some fans criticizing him for bowing down to someone who is younger than him and accused of hate crimes against specific religions and community. Others defended him, saying that he was following his culture and tradition of respecting a yogi or a sanyasi.

Rajinikanth also thanked his fans and the people of the world for making Jailer a huge hit at the box office. The film, which was released on August 10, has crossed the ₹ 500 crore mark worldwide in 11 days, becoming the second Tamil film to achieve this feat after 2.0. The film also became the first-ever South Indian song to become No.1 on Spotify in India with its song Hukum.

Jailer, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, stars Rajinikanth as a retired jailer who goes on a mission to avenge his son’s death at the hands of a ruthless smuggler. The film also features Mohanlal, Shivarajkumar, Jackie Shroff, Ramya Krishnan, Tamannaah Bhatia, Yogi Babu and others in pivotal roles. The film has received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike for its action, comedy and emotion.