
Chennai: Days ahead of taking the political plunge, veteran filmstar Kamal Haasan
met superstar Rajinikanth today, and said he is calling on those "whom
I like" before the formal launch of his party on February 21.
Both the actors, who command a huge fan following, have announced they will enter politics.
Rajinikanth
said he prayed for "divine blessings" to be bestowed on his friend
Haasan and wished him success in his political endevours.
Rajinikanth
said he and Hassan had different styles in cinema, a possible
indication that they may go separate ways in politics too.
Haasan
had said a few days ago that an alliance between the two was unlikely
if Rajinikanth's colour was "saffron", an apparent reference to the
BJP. Rajinikanth has good equations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking
to reporters after meeting Rajinikanth at his Poes Garden residence
here, Haasan said he had called on the screen idol as he was meeting
"those whom I like" ahead of the launch of his political party.
He
has so far met chief ministers of Kerala and Delhi-- Pinarayi Vijayan
and Arvind Kejriwal-- besides former chief election commissioner T N
Seshan and veteran state CPI leader P Nallakannu.
"When I decided
to take the (political) journey, I had informed him (Rajinikanth). Now,
before leaving for the journey, I came to inform those whom I like,"
Haasan said about the meeting.
"This is not a political meeting but a friendly one. Friendship was dominant (at the meeting)," he added.
Haasan declined to reveal what exactly transpired at the meeting.
Later,
Rajinikanth told reporters that Haasan invited him for the latter's
"political journey," apparently meaning the launch of the actor's
political party.
"My friend Kamal has come to politics not for
money or fame, but has come to do good for the people of Tamil Nadu and
take care of them. I pray to God for his blessings (on Haasan). I wish
him success," he said.
Rajinikanth, who has also said he would
join politics, indicated the style of working of the two contemporaries
could be different although public service was their common goal.
"Even
in cinema our styles are different.. so will it be in politics... but
to do good for people is the main thing (for both of them)," Rajinikanth
said.
The decision of the two top Tamil film stars to enter
politics comes against the backdrop of a perceived vacuum in Tamil Nadu
politics after the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in
December 2016.
The perception gained further currency due to
indifferent health of DMK chief M Karunanidhi. The 93-year-old leader is
not actively involved in politics for over a year now.
Ever since the two declared they would enter politics, there has been a buzz about whether they would come together.
While
Haasan recently wrote in a weekly that he and Rajinikanth needed to
contemplate if it was necessary for them to join hands and face
elections, the latter said only time will tell whether such a thing
would happen.
Haasan will address a string of meetings and unveil
his party flag at Madurai on February 21, marking the commencement of
his political journey.
He will address public meetings at Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Manamadurai and Paramakudi that day.
PTI