“I have explored almost all the genres. I have worked in 160 films and it’s been 45 years in the film industry. I want to play the role of a transgender,” said the Tamil screen idol, when asked if there still was any genre or role that he would like to explore after such a glorious innings in films.

The veteran actor also spoke of his wish to work in a Marathi film someday, since his roots belong to Maharashtra. He added that his passion for acting has been the driving factor for the last 45 years.

He said: “I do speak in Marathi in my house. Once I had an opportunity to work in a Marathi film but that didn’t worked out. I would like to work in a Marathi film. Let’s see when it happens. We have shot this film for 90 days in Mumbai. I really love people of Mumbai.” Rajinikanth, who was born as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad in a Marathi family in Bangalore, plays the commissioner of Mumbai in “Darbar”.

Asked what drives him to work in films after having achieved everything, he said: “To be frank, it’s about money . I have to justify the money I get, and that is huge. No, actually it is the passion. I feel we should love the work that we do. I love acting and I love coming in front of the camera. I think the camera and the light give me energy.”

In “Darbar”, Rajinikanth will be seen playing a police officer after 27 years. “Actually, I don’t like to act as a cop because it is related with duty and all the serious aspects. I love to play happy-go-lucky and entertaining characters. In a cop film, you have to be very serious since he goes after criminals, so I used to avoid it. But Murugadoss came to me with a very good subject. It is not a routine cop character. He has extracted very different kind of work from me and when you see the film, you will realise it,” said Rajinikanth.