Rajinikanth Is A Yogi; I See Him As My Dronacharya: Upendra In First Interview After Signing 'Coolie'

Real Star Upendra has expressed his deep admiration for Tamil superstar Rajinikanth, likening him to Dronacharya while viewing himself as Ekalavya. The Kannada actor is set to play a significant role in the upcoming Tamil film 'Coolie', directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.

In an interview with a Kannada publication, Upendra shared, "I consider myself Ekalavya, with Rajinikanth as my Dronacharya. I am fortunate to learn from him and draw inspiration from his work. Just as Rishabh Shetty refers to me as his guru, I regard Rajinikanth as my guru and source of inspiration."

He reminisced about Rajinikanth attending a screening of his 2010 blockbuster Super and praising the Kannada film.

When asked about his initial reaction to being cast alongside Rajinikanth, Upendra said, "When the chance to act in a Rajinikanth film came up, I couldn't pass it up. I was thrilled at the prospect of sharing screen time with him."

Upendra further commented, "Working with someone like Rajinikanth is a rare opportunity. His demeanor, speech, and overall goodness remind me of a Yogi. I feel incredibly fortunate to be sharing the screen with such an extraordinary person."

He also recalled an inspiring story shared by Rajinikanth:

"Rajinikanth often tells stories with profound, positive messages. One story he shared was about a frog race up a hill. As the race began, obstacles like stones, thorns, and fire were placed along the path, and people shouted warnings to the frogs. Most of the frogs were deterred by the noise and couldn't reach the top, except for one frog that made it to the summit despite the distractions. Rajinikanth used this story to illustrate that ignoring negative voices and persevering leads to success. His stories are filled with deep meaning and inspiration, providing valuable lessons," Upendra added.