Classmate, friend and the man who made Rajinikanth cry; More about Sreeni-Rajini bonhomie

Sreenivasan was a unique cinema talent who made a mark wherever he touched. He was an all-rounder in cinema, who shone not just as an actor but also as a director, scriptwriter, and dubbing artist. Superstar Rajinikanth was a classmate of Sreenivasan at the Adyar Film Institute in Chennai. Sreenivasan had previously spoken in an interview about their friendship and how he once made Rajinikanth cry.

'Kadha Parayambol' is a 2007 film written and acted by Sreenivasan. The film was a huge success. Famous Tamil director P Vasu, who saw the film, suggested the movie to Rajinikanth. In an interview given in 2008, Sreenivasan opened up about what Rajinikanth told him after watching the film.

“I was in Mumbai at that time. By the time I reached the theatre, the film was almost over. Soon after watching the film, I saw Rajinikanth coming out. His eyes were full of emotion. He stared at me with tears in his eyes and hugged me for a long time. He then whispered to my ears, 'You made me cry'' - Sreenivasan.

The film told the story of a superstar named Ashok Kumar and his long-lost friend, barber Balan. Sreenivasan said that while studying in the institute, he never thought that his old friend Sivaji Rao would later become the great actor Rajinikanth. The character of Ashok Kumar, played by Mammootty, was reenacted by Rajinikanth in the Tamil and Telugu versions. Pashupathi played the role of Balan in the Tamil version.

Rajinikanth’s response to Sreenivasan’s death:

“What an amazing actor. We studied together at the cinema institute. His death has shocked me. More than an actor, he was a great human being. May his soul rest in peace.”