Indian superstar Rajinikanth meets terminally-ill S’pore fan
Terminally-ill S’porean woman goes to KL to meet her idol
As a huge fan of Tamil cinema icon Rajinikanth since she was 12, Madam Agnes Sandanam had dreamed of meeting the legendary South Indian actor in the flesh.
Not that the 49-year-old considered it possible, especially with her terminal end-stage heart condition.
But on Nov 13, the wheelchair-bound Singaporean's wish to meet her idol came true.
"When I found out on Facebook that Rajinikanth was going to be in Malaysia to shoot his upcoming movie Kabali, I knew I had to see him because he was so close by," Madam Sandanam, told The New Paper over the phone.
She sent a request through Facebook to Mr Shankar Ganesh, founder and chairman of the Isai Empire media group in Malaysia that focuses on the Tamil entertainment industry, to help set up a meeting with Rajinikanth, which he did.
WORSENING HEALTH
She wrote about her worsening condition - she was diagnosed in 2007 - and even attached her medical report.
Her illness causes her to tire easily, suffer from dizzy spells and have breathing difficulties.
Apart from being in and out of the hospital often, Madam Sandanam has to take some 15 pills a day for her heart, diabetes and a pain in her leg.
She has watched all 50 or so movies starring Rajinikanth but is unable to do so on the big screen since her diagnosis as the loud volume affects her heart.
"I'm so happy and still stunned that I got to meet him. I met him (more than) a week ago but the shock is still there," she said..
Madam Sandanam, her husband, daughter and granddaughter travelled to Kuala Lumpur by car and waited at the Shangri-La Hotel, where Rajinikanth was staying.
The meeting was scheduled for 7pm but didn't happen until 10pm because of the film star's busy schedule.
Ms Priya, Madam Sandanam's 25-year-old daughter, said that during the trip to KL, her mother's right middle toe, where she had suffered an injury, started to bleed and hurt, but she braved the pain.
When Madam Sandanam finally got to meet Rajinikanth for 10 minutes, she was speechless and cried from happiness and shock.
One thing that Madam Sandanam noticed about him was how simply dressed he was and how down-to-earth he seemed, compared with his dramatic movie roles.
She even asked the 64-year-old for a kiss and a hug, and he happily obliged. He also patted her on the cheek.
Rajinikanth, who was aware of her condition, motivated her with words of encouragement and told her that "you'll be fine" and "not to worry".
She said: "He's a great man, a humble man, and I'll never forget that moment."
He's a great man, a humble man, and I'll never forget that moment.
- Madam Agnes Sandanam, on her 10-minute meeting with Tamil cinema star Rajinikanth in Kuala Lumpur
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