WhatsApp introduces a Rajinikanth emoji

While Bollywood stars typically spend weeks promoting their films by attending events, making appearances on comedy shows, shaking a leg on dance reality shows etc the makers of Rajinikanth’s upcoming film have taken a rather different approach.

Now, considering Rajnikanth’s enviable and god-like fan following, one would assume that filmmakers would simply put his face on the poster and wait for the money to start pouring in. Instead, the makers of ‘Kabali’ are adopting marketing techniques that will likely go down in history as some of the most unique and intelligent strategies for film promotions.

In a first for an Indian film, WhatsApp has added an emoji based on Rajinikanth’s character ‘Baasha’ from ‘Kabali’. The emoji, located under the football icon section, features the superstar dressed in a black dapper suit and sunglasses. WhatsApp is currently the most popular messaging platform, with over a billion active users.

Last week, low cost carrier AirAsia also unveiled a newly-branded aircraft featuring Rajinikanth’s Kabali look. The airline is the official airline partner for Kabali.

Rajinikanth’s last film ‘Lingaa’ minted around Rs 150 crore at the box-office, but the collections were considered average for a Rajni film.