# “Who’s the Hero Then?” — Rajinikanth’s Hilarious Robot Throwback

URL: https://technosports.co.in/whos-the-hero-then-rajinikanths-hilarious/  
Published: 2026-06-30  
Updated: 2026-06-30  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Some movie pairings raise eyebrows before they even hit theaters, and [Rajinikanth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajinikanth) opposite Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in *Robot* was one of them. Years later, at the film’s music launch, Thalaivar himself revealed just how skeptical one fan was — and the story is pure comedy gold.

## **The Story Rajinikanth Couldn’t Stop Laughing About**

While staying at his brother’s place in Bengaluru, Rajinikanth got a surprise visit from a 60-plus-year-old Rajasthani neighbor eager to meet the superstar. Spotting Rajinikanth in his usual casual avatar, the man was already a little thrown off. Things got funnier when he asked about the actor’s upcoming project.

![Rajinikanth](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rajsysys-1024x538.jpg)

Rajinikanth recalled telling him it was *Robot*, with Aishwarya Rai as the heroine. The man’s jaw practically dropped. “Aishwarya Rai? Heroine? Then who is the hero?” he asked, genuinely confused. When Rajinikanth calmly said he himself was playing the hero, the man went completely silent for ten minutes, staring blankly, before finally walking away muttering, “What happened to Aishwarya Rai? What happened to Abhishek Bachchan? What happened to Amitabh Bachchan?”

The audience at the launch event burst into laughter, and Rajinikanth used the moment to publicly thank Aishwarya for trusting the project despite the age-gap skepticism floating around at the time.

| Detail | Information |
| --- | --- |
| Film | Robot (Enthiran) |
| Release Year | 2010 |
| Director | Shankar |
| Lead Cast | Rajinikanth, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan |
| Roles | Vaseegaran, Sana |
| Box Office | Massive hit in India and overseas |

Despite early doubts from fans, *Robot* went on to become one of Indian cinema’s biggest blockbusters, with the Rajinikanth-Aishwarya pairing turning into one of its most memorable highlights.

For more throwback stories, celebrity anecdotes, and South cinema updates, check out [TechnoSports’ entertainment section](https://www.technosports.co.in) for fresh reads daily.

## **FAQs**

### **Q1: When was “Robot” released?**

The Shankar-directed sci-fi film hit theaters in 2010 and became a massive box office success.

### **Q2: Who did Rajinikanth play in the film?**

  
  
He played dual roles as scientist Vaseegaran and his robotic creation, opposite Aishwarya Rai as Sana.