Rajinikanth reminisces about Sarath Babu: If he would see me smoking he would snatch the cigarette

In a heartfelt homage to his late actor friend Sarath Babu on Tuesday, Superstar Rajinikanth recalled the latter’s exhortation to give up smoking, stating the late veteran would even snatch away the counterfoil and put it out if he caught him doing so. After paying respects to Sarath Babu’s mortal remains here, Rajinikanth declared that, in consideration of his friend’s opinions, he would refrain from smoking in front of the actor.

The 71-year-old Sarath Babu passed away on Monday in a hospital in Hyderabad while receiving care for multiple organ failure.

Talking to a reporter, Rajinikanth stated that he knew Sarath Babu before he became an actor and also that they were good friends. He also said that the late actor was a very good human being, a good friend and always had a smile on his face.

He said, “I have never seen him getting serious or angry. You all know that all the films I acted with him are very big hits, Mullum Malarum, Muthu, Annamalai and Velaikkaran. He had great love and affection for me…he would always regret about me smoking, will ask me to quit it for a long life. If he would see me smoking, he would snatch the cigarette and put it out. So, I won’t smoke before him.”

“In Annamalai, there is this important scene of challenging (Rajinikanth taking on Sarath Babu after their friendship turns sour) and took lot of retakes as the emotions did not come out properly. He got me a cigarette and after that I felt relaxed and the take was approved. He always advised me about good health but he is no more now,” he added.

Sarath Babu made his acting debut in the 1973 Telugu film Rama Rajyamwas. He was last seen in the Tamil film Vasantha Mullai this year. On Tuesday, the actor will be cremated in Chennai.