At 75, Rajinikanth still packs action star energy: ‘5 whites’ diet rule and workout routine is Jailer 2 star's fitness secret

Rajinikanth may have turned 75 age wise, but his on screen appearances show little signs of the superstar slowing down as he still takes on roles that demand physical energy. His latest movie, Jailer 2 trailer has once again put the spotlight on his action-packed screen presence, while social media videos of the actor working out have shown how he maintains his fitness away from the camera.

His diet seems to play a major part in all this along with his routine. In August 2025, Dr Preethi Mrinalini, a consultant laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon associated with Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, shared a video explaining some of Rajinikanth’s food and fitness habits.

Rajinikanth avoids the ‘5 whites’

Dr Mrinalini said Rajinikanth avoids what she called the “5 whites”, that is salt, sugar, maida, milk and curd.


“Rajinikanth stays fit by avoiding 5 whites, salt, sugar, maida, milk and curd. These contribute to inflammation, insulin spikes, acidity and gut issues when overconsumed. His secret? Clean eating, daily workouts and meditation. A true example of healthy ageing!” she wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.

The doctor also explained her concerns about some of these foods. She said that excessive processed sugar can increase belly fat, insulin resistance and cravings. Too much salt, she added, can cause bloating and water retention and may even contribute to high blood pressure.

On maida, she said it has fewer nutritional benefits and can contribute to weight gain when consumed excessively. She also discussed milk, curd and butter, noting that these foods provide calcium and protein but after 40 excessive consumption can lead to bloating and weight retention.

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A post shared by Dr.Preethi Mrinalini | Laparoscopic & Bariatric Surgeon (@dr.preethimrinalini)

Jailer 2 star has spoken about his diet

Rajinikanth has also spoken about his food choices himself. In the clip shared by Dr Mrinalini, the actor is heard saying at an event, “I avoid these white food items. Sugar, salt, rice, maida (refined flour), milk, curd, butter, tablets.”

His list includes more items than the five highlighted by the doctor, with rice, butter and tablets also mentioned in adddition.

In her video, Dr Mrinalini did not suggest completely eliminating white rice. “If you combine this (white rice) with vegetables and take it in a moderate quantity, it's definitely okay,” Dr Mrinalini said.

A News18 report from August 2025 said Rajinikanth's meals are largely home-cooked, with fresh and seasonal produce, protein-rich foods and whole grains. Processed foods, refined sugar, excessive salt and fatty meats are limited in his diet.

Rajinikanth still does weight lifting

Diet is not the only part of his routine as videos shared online have shown Rajinikanth exercising with his trainer.

In one workout clip, that was shared on social media earlier, the actor can be seen performing an incline dumbbell press before doing squats with support from a bench. Rajinikanth's fitness routine also includes yoga, meditation and breathing exercises.

Jailer 2 brings Rajinikanth back to action

Jailer 2 is the latest movie that the superstar will be next seen starring in. The trailer, released by Sun Pictures on October 5, shows Rajinikanth returning as Tiger Muthuvel Pandian and features several action sequences.

The movie which is a sequel to the 2023 film Jailer, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, has been scheduled to release worldwide on October 15, 2026.