WATCH: Superstar Rajinikanth Pays Surprise Visit To BMTC Bus Depot, Remembers His Days As Conductor

Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, who later started his acting career with the name of Rajinikanth, was a bus conductor in Bengaluru until the age of 22. 

Superstar Rajinikanth paid a surprise visit to depot number 4 of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) of Karnataka where he once worked as a conductor, on Tuesday. The Kollywood actor took everyone by surprise and spent a few minutes with BMYC drivers and other workers at Jayanagar. Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, who later started his acting career with the name of Rajinikanth, was a bus conductor in Bengaluru until the age of 22. 

On Tuesday, as soon as he visited the depot, Traffic Transit Management Centre (TTMC) personnel of the BMTC greeted the actor and milled around him. The actor reportedly then turned nostalgic about his experience. He spent some time chatting with them and taking selfies.

The actor also visited Raghavendra Swami Math in Bengaluru. Rajinikanth is a staunch believer of Raghavendra Swami and he has donned the role of 'Sri Raghavendrar' in a Kollywood movie. 

Sources told TOI that Rajinikanth lived and worked in Bengaluru till the age of 22. In Bengaluru, Rajinikanth worked as a conductor in Bangalore Transport Services (BTC).

Later, he shifted to Chennai to pursue his acting career. The legendary Tamil director, the late K Balachander spotted him and gave actor his first break in the hit flim 'Aboorva Ragangal' in 1975. 

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth made his comeback to the big screen with this month's release of "Jailer" directed by Nelson Dilipkumar after almost two years.

The movie 'Jailer' which was released on August 10 crossed Rs 175 crore at the box office in Tamil Nadu. Overall, the film is towards collecting a record Rs 600 crore worldwide. The movie was produced by Sun Pictures.