The actor’s Twitter account - which was started in February 2013 and boasts of 4.58 million followers - had the handle @superstarrajini. After five years now, he has now changed it to just @rajinikanth. Similarly, his social media team has also opened accounts on Facebook and Instagram this week, with both pages simply titled ‘Rajinikanth.’

Sources reveal that this is a conscious effort from the Rajini Makkal Mandram team to ensure Rajinikanth’s national fan following - that has substantially increased since December 31 last year, when he announced his intention to enter politics - does not continue to perceive his larger-than-life ‘mass’ image from his movie career. 

Rajinikanth’s ‘superstar’ sobriquet on social media had also received considerable backlash earlier claiming he wasn’t approaching his political career seriously. 

Meanwhile, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Rajinikanth felicitated Karate Association of India’s meritorious women karate players at his residence in Chennai. Bharat Sharma, General Secretary, Karate Association of India accompanied the successful women and met Rajinikanth to congratulate him on his political journey.