Mirna Menon Says Rajinikanth Works Out Before Arriving On Set

abhijeet dipke Actor Mirna Menon, who worked with Rajinikanth in Jailer 2, has described the routine that the 75-year-old superstar follows to remain active during demanding film schedules. According to her account, Rajinikanth wakes up early, completes his workout and only then arrives on the set. Mirna Menon describes Rajinikanth’s daily routine Menon said Rajinikanth gives priority to exercise even when shooting locations do not have gym facilities. At such locations, he makes sure that workout equipment is available in his room so that his routine does not stop. “We shot in many places where there was no gym, but he made sure that workout equipment was available in his room,” Menon said, according to the reports. She also said that she was impressed by his dedication to maintaining the routine despite the limitations of the shooting locations. His reported workouts include swimming and treadmill running. Another report said that he also walks frequently and uses stairs while shooting, with these activities linked to endurance, muscle strength and heart health. The reports present this consistency as a central part of Rajinikanth’s fitness routine rather than something limited to a particular film schedule. Even when work pressure is high, he reportedly does not break his daily routine. Why Jailer 2 brought attention to his fitness Rajinikanth’s fitness has drawn renewed attention because of his appearance in Jailer 2. TV9 Telugu reported that the film was released amid heavy hype and began making a strong impact at the box office within two days. The report also said that fans felt Rajinikanth’s style and mannerisms had not diminished in the film. Hindustan Times Telugu similarly reported that his physical strength and fitness in recent films had again become a subject of discussion. At 75, Rajinikanth continues to be described in the reports as active and energetic, while his screen presence and action have been compared with that of younger heroes. The discussion around his fitness has therefore focused not only on his appearance on screen but also on the discipline that reportedly supports his work schedule. Swimming and treadmill running Swimming is one of the main activities mentioned in the accounts of Rajinikanth’s routine. The reports say that swimming works several muscle groups and can raise the heart rate while placing less pressure on the joints because water supports much of the body’s weight. Hindustan Times Telugu described swimming as an exercise that can be useful for older people with knee pain or arthritis because it reduces pressure on the joints. The same report said that swimming can provide exercise to the body’s muscles at the same time. Treadmill running is another regular part of the routine attributed to Rajinikanth. The reports link treadmill running with stronger muscles and better heart and lung health. TV9 Telugu also noted that people who are not accustomed to running can begin with treadmill walking at a comfortable speed. That explanation appeared as part of the report’s broader discussion of the exercises associated with Rajinikanth’s routine. The reports also refer to resistance training as part of the fitness practices associated with Rajinikanth. Such exercises may involve body weight, resistance bands or light weights. Hindustan Times Telugu said that light-weight or body-weight exercises, along with swimming and walking, can help maintain strength as muscle mass generally declines with age. A strict and simple diet Exercise is only one part of the routine described by Menon and the reports. Rajinikanth is also said to follow strict and simple food rules. Menon said she had heard on the sets that he does not prefer food containing a high amount of spice or oil. TV9 Telugu specifically preserved her qualification that she had not personally seen what he ate, but had heard about his preferences on the sets. Reports also said that he avoids or largely does not consume certain white foods, including milk, curd, white rice and sugar. Another account said that he does not take white rice and sugar at all, while also keeping salt and fatty foods very low. The reports differ in how they describe the details, but they consistently portray his diet as controlled, simple and low in spicy or oily food. He is also described as eating healthier food more often. The diet information is attributed primarily to Menon’s comments and to reports based on those comments. It is not presented as a detailed personal meal plan listing every item that Rajinikanth eats. Consistency over intensity The wider lesson drawn by Hindustan Times Telugu from Rajinikanth’s lifestyle is the importance of not abandoning health habits under difficult circumstances. The report said that regular exercise may be more useful for long-term health than overexertion. That emphasis matches Menon’s description of Rajinikanth working out before reaching the set and arranging equipment in his room when a gym was unavailable. His routine, as described in the reports, is built around continuing familiar activities across different shooting locations. The reports also mention adequate sleep, sufficient water intake and keeping stress under control as important parts of recovery and long-term health. They say that giving the body time to recover is also important. The discussion of strength training adds another element to the routine beyond running and swimming. According to Hindustan Times Telugu, such exercises may help keep bones strong and support balance while walking. The advice attached to the report Hindustan Times Telugu cautioned readers not to begin a new exercise or diet plan solely on their own and said that medical advice should be taken first. That caution appears alongside the report’s discussion of Rajinikanth’s workout and food habits. The available accounts do not describe a single formal fitness programme issued by Rajinikanth. Instead, they bring together Menon’s observations about his routine and the reports’ explanations of swimming, treadmill exercise, walking, stairs, resistance training, diet, sleep, water intake and stress control. What stands out across the accounts is the reported regularity of the routine. Rajinikanth is said to exercise in the morning, continue training even without a gym, and follow strict food habits while balancing long shooting schedules. That discipline has become part of the conversation around his continued activity at 75 and his performance in Jailer 2. The reports attribute the details to Mirna Menon and describe the routine as a combination of daily exercise, controlled eating and consistency.

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A Rapido driver, a labourer and a minor are among the accused who allegedly opened fire at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car as he was leaving a football club in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday night, police said.

The accused were intercepted in Rajasthan’s Kota while travelling on a train and heading to Delhi, police said. They added that the accused wanted to flee to Nepal.

The attack has left the Hindi film industry stunned into silence. The intent, according to the source material, was not merely to scare Tiger Shroff but to kill him.

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma described the incident as “a never-before-seen phenomenon.”

“Instead of violence relating to extortion, contract killings, settlements etc for the first time ever, they seem to be wanting to kill for vanity and pride,” he said.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta said Bollywood needed to look at the security issue much more deeply than simply employing bouncers.

“It's scary. I hope Tiger and his team are safe. The industry can't protect itself with more bouncers. That's a private answer to a public problem. Security is the State's job and it has to be done without fear or favour whoever the target is. What we can do is speak up. Not just when it's one of the big names. The silence is what these people count on,” Mehta said.

Writer-director Manish Gupta said people working in the film industry had become vulnerable targets because of the amount of personal information available through social media.

“Every person in our industry has become a soft target today. Due to social media, everyone's home and office address and general places of dining, gymming, etc are well-known,” Gupta said.

He said the way to protect people in the industry was to ensure swift police action against those involved in threats and other illegal activities.

“The only way to protect ourselves is getting the police to swoop down on criminals who carry out such threatening and illegal practices. Policing, criminal investigation and arrest and conviction of accused persons must become more efficient and effective,” he said.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap questioned how a person in prison could allegedly operate without help from authorities. He linked his understanding to research he had carried out on prison for his film Bandar.

“I don't know what to say. A man from prison can not operate without help from authorities. That's what my understanding from my research on prison for my film Bandar,” Kashyap said.

He also questioned whether protecting people was not the responsibility of the law and whether the alleged attack itself was enough to warrant a harsher punishment for a gang leader already in prison.

“Isn't protecting the job of the law? Isn't claiming the attack proof enough for a harsher punishment for the gang leader who is already in prison? They don't even have to look for him,” he said.

Kashyap further said the government had the power to prevent incidents from taking place and questioned why action could not be taken against a person already in prison.

“The government has the power to prevent anything from happening. They know which student is heading out for protest and detain them before they step out. So why can't they stop it by going for the guy who is already in prison? The answer lies in intention. If the law wants to, intends to, they can protect everyone,” he said.

Filmmaker Suneel Darshan also expressed confusion over the reported attack, asking, “Why target Tiger? I just can't figure what's happening.”

Lyricist-writer Manoj Muntashir strongly condemned the attack and said the investigation should examine the larger criminal plan behind it.

“I strongly condemn the attack on Tiger. He is a thorough gentleman with, to my knowledge, an absolutely clean and spotless life. I see no apparent reason for anyone to hold a gun to him,” Muntashir said.

He said he would not compare the incident with the attack on Rakesh Roshanji in 2000 because the circumstances were different.

“I would not equate this incident with the attack on Rakesh Roshanji in 2000, as the circumstances were different. We have a competent government in Maharashtra, and I am confident Devendra Fadnavisji will not take this lightly,” he said.

Muntashir also said there was no reason for fear or panic in the film industry and said he felt secure under the present governance and existing system.

“There is no reason for fear or panic in the film industry. I feel secure under the present governance and the existing system. The attackers have reportedly been arrested, but the investigation must go beyond the foot soldiers and reach the masterminds,” he said.

“Arresting the perpetrators is only the first step; bringing the real conspirators to justice is what matters,” Muntashir added.

The photograph was curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.