CHENNAI: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan met superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday ahead of starting his statewide mega-tour. But hitting brakes on renewed speculation about a political collaboration between them, Haasan told reporters that it was a "courtesy call" and not related to politics.
Haasan, who is also gearing up for his first political meet on Wednesday, spelt it out again. "Only time will tell on both of us joining hands... I came to inform Rajini about my political tour... Rajini wished me good luck," Haasan told reporters outside the superstar's residence in posh Poes Garden.
"Kamal wants to serve the people of Tamil Nadu. I pray to God that he attains success," Rajinikanth said. "He has not entered politics for fame or money but only to serve people of the state."
A strident critic of the state's ruling AIADMK government, Haasan is expected to unveil his governance model this week at Rameswaram, after which he would begin his statewide tour. At the same event, he is expected to announce the name of the political party he had announced last year.
He called the tour a "journey of discovery" during which he will attempt to "understand people's needs and aspirations" and said he would meet the people he likes before he starts.
In December, after Rajinikanth made the long-awaited announcement about his entry into politics, the two actors have repeatedly been asked if they would contest elections together. Both have ducked the question with a "time will tell".
Haasan has indicated that the political compatibility is the key. "It isn't like choosing the star cast for films," he wrote in his column in the popular Tamil weekly "Ananda Vikatan".
In his speech last week at the Harvard University of the US, Haasan had been more forthcoming. "I hope Rajinikanth's colour is not saffron because if it is, an alliance is unlikely," he had said.