Actors and to-be politicians Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan had a meeting this afternoon at the former’s residence, giving rise to enough speculations about the two possibly coming together as allies. However, speaking to the media after their meeting, Kamal Haasan termed their Sunday meeting a “courtesy call”.
“Only time will tell,” Haasan told media persons when asked about an alliance, after exiting Rajinikanth’s Poes Garden residence.
It’s a courtesy call, not a political meeting. I came to inform him about my political tour. He wished me good luck: Kamal Haasan after meeting Rajinikanth pic.twitter.com/VrgXSkGDQP
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018
He further added that he has invited Rajinikanth to attend the ceremony in Ramanathapuram where he would reveal his party flag and name on February 21. He also paid a courtesy visit to DMK supremo M Karunanidhi and MK Stalin at their Gopalapuram residence.
Kamal Haasan met DMK President M Karunanidhi & DMK working president MK Stalin at their residence in Chennai’s Gopalapuram #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/MrEZ0vsXLB
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018
Rajinikanth too, addressed the media, saying that the two have always had different styles in cinema and would continue so in politics, with the collective aim of serving the people.
Kamal (Haasan) wants to serve the people of Tamil Nadu. I pray to God that he attains success. He has not entered politics for fame or money but only to serve people of the state: Rajinikanth, after Kamal Haasan met him at his residence in Chennai pic.twitter.com/Q3sVsZ9q9s
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018
Incidentally, Haasan, speaking at the India Conference in Harvard Business School last week, hinted that an alliance is unlikely given their different political ideologies. “The hue of Rajinikanth is saffron. The colour of my politics is black (which is all colours). Don’t see any alliance likely,” he told senior journalist Barkha Dutt.
Kamal Haasan will officially begin his political tour on February 21, beginning at his birthplace Ramanathapuram. He had earlier said that his tour is being planned in ‘phases’, and that there will be many tours in the future. He will also announce the name of his party during his tour. Haasan plans on meeting and spending time with people in the districts of Madurai, Dindigul and Sivagangai.
Here’s his schedule for February 21: