When Dharmendra slapped a tiger and Rajinikanth walked off set! A legend-meets-legend tale

As Rajinikanth turns 75 on December 12, fans across the world are celebrating a star whose charisma has crossed languages, borders and generations. From a modest beginning to unmatched superstardom, his journey remains one of Indian cinema’s greatest success stories.

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Amid the tributes and celebrations, an unforgettable behind-the-scenes story involving Rajinikanth, Dharmendra and a real tiger has resurfaced - a tale as dramatic as anything Indian cinema has ever created.

A Studio, a Fight Scene and an Unexpected Visitor

Veteran actress Radikaa Sarathkumar recently recounted the extraordinary incident from their days at Vahini Studio.

She recalled, “I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was shooting with Mr Rajinikanth in Vahini Studio. He was on the next set.”

During that time, Rajinikanth was shooting an intense action sequence where Radikaa’s character was tied to a tree and he had to confront a real tiger - long before VFX became common. 

As she put it, “We were shooting a fight scene where I was tied to a tree and Rajinikanth had to fight a real tiger because we didn’t have VFX then. The tiger was not very ferocious, but Rajinikanth was also not very comfortable doing that shot.”

Dharmendra Steps In and the Tiger Learns Who the Real He-Man Is!

In the middle of the tension, Dharmendra - already famous as Bollywood’s He-Man - walked onto the set, tall and effortlessly charismatic. Radikaa recalled the unforgettable moment: “He greeted Rajinikanth, looked at the tiger and gave it a tight slap with his huge hands. The tiger reacted like a cat. None of us could say anything at that moment.”

The unexpected act stunned everyone - especially Rajinikanth, who now had to continue the scene with the same tiger that had just been slapped.

Thalaivar’s Calm Exit and a Justified Concern

Shaken by what had happened, Rajinikanth quietly left in his car. Initially, the crew thought he had gone to his vanity van, until the producer received a call from him.

Radikaa remembered his words clearly: “That man came and slapped the tiger. He will go back to his set, but I have to come back here and shoot with the tiger. Let the tiger calm down.”

It was a rare moment that showcased Rajinikanth’s honesty, vulnerability and professionalism - a reminder of the physical risks actors once took before CGI made dangerous scenes safer.

A Tribute to Dharmendra

Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24 at the age of 89, left behind not only a legacy of films but countless memories like these - warm, humorous and larger than life. 

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Rajinikanth was among the first to pay heartfelt tribute to his old friend. Their brief interaction on that day became a timeless anecdote - a meeting of legends, a moment of humour and shock, and a glimpse into the fearless filmmaking era of Indian cinema.