Latha Rajinikanth

Latha Rajinikanth
Latha at the NDTV Indian Of The Year awards in 2013
Born
Latha Rangachari

2 March 1958 (1958-03-02) (age 66)
Thiruvallikeni, Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesLatha Rao Gaikwad
Occupations
Spouse
​
(m. 1981)​
ChildrenAishwarya Rajinikanth
Soundarya Rajinikanth
RelativesRavi Raghavendra (brother)
Y. G. Mahendran (brother-in-law)
Anirudh Ravichander (nephew)

Latha Rajinikanth (born Latha Rangachari; 2 March 1958) is an Indian film producer and playback singer.[1] She is the wife of actor Rajinikanth.[2]

Early life

Latha was born in Chennai, India in a Tamil Brahmin Iyengar family.[3][4] She graduated with degree in English literature from Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai.[5]

Career

During the 1980s, Latha worked as a playback singer in Tamil cinema. She sang a few songs in films such as Tik Tik Tik (1981) Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984). She also contributed to Rajini 25 (1999), a musical album that commemorated Rajinikanth's 25 years of his career.

In 1991, Latha founded The Ashram, a school in Velachery, Chennai, which she currently heads.[6]

Personal life

Latha is the sister-in-law of Tamil playwright and film actor Y Gee Mahendran. She is also related to former film actress Vyjayanthimala.[7] Latha's brother Ravi Raghavendra is also an actor who is the father of music director Anirudh Ravichander. She married Rajinikanth, whom she met during an exclusive interview, on 26 February 1981 at Tirupati. The couple has two daughters, Aishwarya and Soundarya. She has four grandchildren.[8][9]

Controversy

Document forgery case

An FIR had been filed in Bangalore against Latha for allegedly forging documents to obtain a court order, restraining media from publishing news about her dispute with a commissioned producer over selling of rights of Kochadaiiyaan on 15 June 2015.[10]

Rent issues

Latha operates a shop on CP Ramaswamy Road. Operating from a building owned by Chennai Corporation, Latha has for the past 25 years run a travel agency called "Travel Exchange India". The city Corporation recently increased the rent from ₹3,702 (equivalent to ₹5,200 or US$61 in 2023) to ₹21,160 (equivalent to ₹30,000 or US$350 in 2023) per month. Latha filed a petition in the Madras High Court challenging the decision of the Greater Chennai Corporation.[11] The Madras HC dismissed the petition filed on Latha Rajinikanth's behalf and ordered the corporation to take ownership of the property in a month if the due rental was not received.[12][13]

A school run by Latha Rajinikanth in Chennai was locked up by the landlord of the building in August 2017, who claimed he had not received two rent payments of ₹20 million (equivalent to ₹28 million or US$330,000 in 2023). The owner said in 2002 he leased out the school ground to be used. He said that over a year ago he had filed a case against the management of the school because they had not paid the rent amounting to ₹100 million (equivalent to ₹140 million or US$1.6 million in 2023).[14] In December 2020, the Madras High Court has ordered Latha to vacate the school by 30 April.[15]

Filmography

As producer

Year Title
1986 Maaveeran
1993 Valli

As singer

As costume designer

  • Valli (1993)

References

  1. ^ "On Rajinikanth And Latha's 39th Wedding Anniversary, A Rare Throwback Pic Shared By Daughter Soundarya". NDTV.com. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. ^ Rajini has been a friend, says wife Latha – Movies News News – IBNLive. Ibnlive.in.com (12 December 2009). Retrieved on 24 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Rajinikanth's wife Latha in exclusive interview with MyNation: Spiritual politics runs in family". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Rajinikanth is extremely persistent - Times of India". The Times of India. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  5. ^ "The Women in Rajinikanth's Life". Rediff.com. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  6. ^ Life & Style : Latha Rajinikanth's dreams for 'little people'. The Hindu (6 November 2009). Retrieved on 24 July 2012.
  7. ^ First Experience of RajiniKanth. Rajini's First Language Movies, Producer's First Movies, Director's First Movies, Highest Remake Movies. www.rajinikanth.com. Retrieved on 24 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Dhanush's adorable picture with sons Linga and Yatra goes viral, see pic". Hindustan Times. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Soundarya Rajinikanth welcomes baby boy Veer, shares unseen pregnancy photos". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  10. ^ Police Complaint Lodged Against Rajinikanth's Wife Latha for Alleged Fraud
  11. ^ "Latha Rajinikanth's plea against rent hike rejected". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  12. ^ Latha Rajinikanth moves HC on rent for travel agency – The Hindu
  13. ^ "Pay the increased rent or vacate: Madras HC's ultimatum to Latha Rajinikanth". www.thenewsminute.com. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  14. ^ Scroll Staff. "Tamil Nadu: School run by Rajinikanth's wife Latha sealed for not paying rent worth Rs 2 crore". Scroll.in. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Latha Rajinikanth backed school given time till April 30 to vacate disputed Guindy campus". The New Indian Express. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  16. ^ Rajinikanth: Rajinikanth's wife, Latha, sings for Kochadaiiyaan | Tamil Movie News - Times of India