Fact Check: Viral video of Superstar Rajnikanth shows his doppelganger Sudhakar Prabhu of Kochi
Rajinikanth, South India’s Superstar, has a charismatic on-screen presence and has a massive following not only in Tamil Nadu but all over the country.
Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth, South India’s Superstar, has a charismatic on-screen presence and has a massive following not only in Tamil Nadu but all over the country. He is also known for his simplicity and down-to-earth behaviour. Recently, a video has been in circulation on social media showing a man in a blue shirt and black shorts. The hairstyle of the man is just like that of Rajinikanth and he is seen talking to people on the road and shaking hands with them.
The video is shared with the claim that he is the actor himself. The caption on the Instagram post claims “Down to earth, The Great Rajnikant ji. #sistylo #viral #
A reel on a Facebook page with the claim in Telugu “గుర్తుపట్టలేనంతగా మారిపోయిన సూపర్ స్టార్ రజినికాంత్” which translates to “Superstar Rajinikanth changed beyond recognition”.
The video was also shared on YouTube with the title in Tamil “சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ரஜினிகாந்த்” w
Fact Check:
The claim is False. The video shows a tea seller from Kerala who has become popular due to his resemblance to the Superstar Rajinikanth.
According to NDTV.com, a video of a doppelganger of Indian superstar Rajinikanth has taken the internet by storm. Sudhakar Prabhu, who runs a tea shop on Pattalam Road in Fort Kochi, has been trending on the Internet because of his uncanny resemblance to the legendary actor. In a video that has gone viral, Mr Prabhu, wearing a pair of shorts and a shirt, is seen talking to a few people while mimicking the actor's mannerisms.
News 18.com shared the viral video stating that the man has an uncanny resemblance to him and people were shocked when the clip went viral on social media. But there has been no exact information about the look-alike of Rajinikanth. As per the comments from the post, it was found that the man is a tea seller from Cochin and is quite popular in the area for his resemblance to the superstar.
According to wionews, Prabhu’s resemblance to Rajinikanth was first noticed by Malayalam actor-director Nadirshah, who was in Fort Kochi for a film shoot. Sharing a picture of Prabhu, Nadirshah wrote, ''Astounding! Sudhakara Prabhu of Fort Kochi with a likeness to him. Although he is an aristocrat by name, he is working in a tea shop.”
Here is his tweet.
Hence, the viral video does not show Tamil star Rajinikanth, it shows his doppelganger Sudhakar Prabhu from Kerala. The claim is False.