Indian fans celebrate Rajinikanth’s latest movie release

India — Fans of an Indian film star with a cult following flocked to theaters on Thursday to celebrate his latest film’s release with dancing and prayers.

Hundreds of fans of Rajinikanth, one of India’s biggest film stars, carried photo cutouts and flower garlands as they made their way to a Mumbai theatre to see his latest film “Jailer.” The first showing started at 6 a.m. local time.

When Rajinikanth appeared on screen, the movie was pause for a moment as Indian fans dance and cheer in celebration of his return after a two-year absence. In India, popular movie stars are treat as gods, and their fans frequently worship them as deities.

Rajinikanth is one of Asia’s highest-paid actors, best known for his superhero stunts. He has a devoted fan base that spans generations and even continents. His films have broken box-office records in India as well as in Malaysia and the United Kingdom, both of which have large Tamil-speaking populations.

The actor, who was born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, now goes by just one name. Before attending acting school, he worked as a bus driver for three years. He began in Tamil cinema as a villain and worked his way up before landing roles in Bollywood, the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai.

Some offices in the southern cities of Chennai and Bengaluru declared a holiday on Thursday to allow his fans to watch the film. “Scientists say time machines are impossible, but Rajinikanth has the power to transport us back to our childhood,” said one fan named Arun, who saw the film on its first day in Mumbai.

Rajinikanth, 72, stars as a prison warden in “Jailer,” battling a criminal gang to rescue its leader. He has appeared in 160 Indian films.