Fans will be ones suffering if they hurt themselves in pursuit of stars: Rajinikanth

Superstar Rajinikanth on Wednesday cautioned fans that they alone will bear the consequences if they hurt themselves in zealous attempts to be near their favourite stars, especially during political campaigns. Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport , he drew attention to the deadly risks associated with large crowds after a fatal stampede at a recent rally by actor‑turned‑politician Vijay’s party.

Rajinikanth said youth must be careful and keep their physical well‑being and education foremost, stressing that injuries sustained in chaotic gatherings result in personal hardship , not harm to the celebrity they idolise. “If you miss this time meant for studies, you will suffer greatly later in life,” he added, urging young people to focus fully on their studies.

His remarks come against the backdrop of the catastrophic 2025 Karur stampede at a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally led by Vijay, where massive crowds surged and at least 41 people, including children , were crushed due to poor crowd management and delayed arrival of the star, according to official investigations. Emergency services struggled to reach the injured, and the lack of adequate buffer zones and security planning was widely cited as a factor in the tragedy.

The aftermath of Karur has seen sustained legal and political repercussions, including a plea for a CBI probe into the tragedy that is under consideration by the Supreme Court, with a Special Investigation Team already examining multiple aspects of the case. Authorities also booked several party functionaries and registered cases over alleged security lapses.

Beyond safety and education, Rajinikanth issued a strong warning against substance abuse, urging young people not to become “slaves” to addictive habits that destroy individual lives and devastate families.

On the professional front, he revealed that approximately 20 per cent of his current film shoot remains, and while questions about a possible collaboration with Kamal Haasan continue to surface, Rajinikanth noted that details lie with the directors and production offices.