'Kaala' in theaters today: Some unknown facts about Rajinikanth's film

Rajinikanth's fever has gripped the nation. As Kaala releases nationwide, fans have been queueing up outside movie theatres in Chennai, Mumbai and other parts of south India from early morning to get tickets of their favourite superstar's latest film.

A Rajinikanth release at the big screen is considered almost as a festival in a southern part of India. People take leaves, offices shut down and cinema halls screen his film from 6 AM in the morning.

As Kaala releases today, here are some interesting facts about the film.

- The name of the movie, 'Kaala', is a reference to Lord Yama, the god of death, according to the director, Pa. Ranjith.

- 'Kaala' is Rajinikanth's second Tamil film ever to receive a U/A certificate from the Indian censor board, the first being 'Thalapathi' (1991). Most of his other films have always got a 'U' certificate.

- This is Pa Ranjith and Rajinikanth's second collaboration together. The director-actor duo has earlier worked together in Kabali.

- Anand Mahindra, chairman and managing director of Mahindra Group, was interested in the jeep which was used in the first look poster of this movie. He tweeted that he would love to acquire that jeep for his company's auto museum.

- Vidya Balan was reportedly approached for a role but the actress refused as she did not have required dates for the film.

- Huma Qureshi, who is working with Rajinikanth for the first time, is not paired opposite him. Actress Easwari Rao is, in fact, paired opposite the superstar.

-Kaala was simultaneously filmed in Tamil and Hindi, dubbed into Telugu later on.

- The film is set in Dharavi Mumbai. While Rajinikanth did shoot parts of the film in Mumbai, a set replicating the slum was recreated in Chennai. Rajinikanth reportedly said he felt like he was shooting at the actual place.

- The film got so famous even before its release that Twitter released a customised emoji just for the film.