New Delhi, June 17 (IANS) The hype and hysteria surrounding the release of "Sivaji: the Boss" in India and overseas needs to be seen to be believed but there is no doubt about who is the country's biggest superstar.

Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, or Rajnikant to the most people, who was never seen as a hero by the Mumbai based Hindi filmdom or Bollywood, is today the undisputed king of Indian cinema.

He took home a wad of Rs.160 million for "Sivaji" which is the most expensive Indian film ever. Even A-list Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan charge about Rs.90 million each per film.

Before 57-year-old Rajnikant's latest venture "Sivaji" hit the marquees this week, it was a common sight to see fans performing ablution by milk on his cut-outs, breaking coconuts in front of the film's posters to ward off evil forces, offering prayers and standing in never-ending serpentine queues to get a ticket.

Fans could be seen gathered outside single-screen theatres as well as multiplex theatres prior to the film's screening and chanted slogans. In Mumbai, fans were seen with hair dyed blond (like Rajni in the film), bursting crackers, distributing sweets and flowers.

In cinema halls in Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai, frontbenchers and the so-called suave balcony crowd alike were seen hooting, whistling, clapping, slogan chanting, dancing and throwing confetti every time their hero made an appearance, broke into a dance, delivered a punch line or hit the villain on the silver screen.

Rajni's histrionics in "Sivaji" with the coin, sunglasses and even his bald pate, have been hailed like there was no tomorrow. And the Rajni mania is not just griping India but according to reports desi fans wrecked at least 10 cinemas across Malaysia after a nationwide premiere of "Sivaji: The Boss" was either delayed or cancelled due to technical glitches.