Director Lenin Bharathi labels Rajinikanth 'fake philanthropist' over charity act
Filmmaker Lenin Bharathi has criticised Rajinikanth calling him a 'fake philanthropist' after gifting a gold chain to a sanitation worker.
Filmmaker Lenin Bharathi has criticised Tamil superstar Rajinikanth after the actor gifted a gold chain to a Chennai sanitation worker, calling the gesture 'so-called generosity'. His remarks came after Rajinikanth’s team shared photos of the meeting on social media, which had otherwise drawn widespread praise.
Lenin Bharathi slammed the actor, accusing him of not standing up for sanitation workers when they were fighting for their rights. Sharing one of the photos posted by Rajinikanth’s team, showing the actor hugging the worker at his Poes Garden home, Bharathi wrote in Tamil questioning where Rajinikanth was when sanitation workers were protesting outside the Ripon Building, the headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation.
In his post, Bharathi alleged that identifying workers only by their uniforms to showcase generosity amounted to performative philanthropy. He went on to label Rajinikanth a “fake philanthropist,” criticising what he described as selective acts of kindness rather than sustained support for workers’ causes.
The controversy followed Rajinikanth’s recent meeting with Padma, a sanitation worker from T Nagar, who was invited to his home and honoured with a gold chain. Padma had earlier found an unclaimed pouch containing 45 sovereigns of gold jewellery and promptly informed her superiors before handing it over to the police, ensuring it was returned to its rightful owners. Rajinikanth reportedly called her home to personally commend her honesty.
While many on social media applauded the actor’s gesture, Bharathi’s comments have sparked a debate online.
Filmmaker Lenin Bharathi has criticised Tamil superstar Rajinikanth after the actor gifted a gold chain to a Chennai sanitation worker, calling the gesture 'so-called generosity'. His remarks came after Rajinikanth’s team shared photos of the meeting on social media, which had otherwise drawn widespread praise.
Lenin Bharathi slammed the actor, accusing him of not standing up for sanitation workers when they were fighting for their rights. Sharing one of the photos posted by Rajinikanth’s team, showing the actor hugging the worker at his Poes Garden home, Bharathi wrote in Tamil questioning where Rajinikanth was when sanitation workers were protesting outside the Ripon Building, the headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation.
In his post, Bharathi alleged that identifying workers only by their uniforms to showcase generosity amounted to performative philanthropy. He went on to label Rajinikanth a “fake philanthropist,” criticising what he described as selective acts of kindness rather than sustained support for workers’ causes.
The controversy followed Rajinikanth’s recent meeting with Padma, a sanitation worker from T Nagar, who was invited to his home and honoured with a gold chain. Padma had earlier found an unclaimed pouch containing 45 sovereigns of gold jewellery and promptly informed her superiors before handing it over to the police, ensuring it was returned to its rightful owners. Rajinikanth reportedly called her home to personally commend her honesty.
While many on social media applauded the actor’s gesture, Bharathi’s comments have sparked a debate online.