Rajinikanth admitted to hospital after blood pressure spikes

The hospital said he was hemodynamically stable and had no other symptoms except blood pressure spikes and exhaustion

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth was on Friday admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, where he was shooting for his latest film Annatthe, after his blood pressure showed “severe fluctuations”. The actor tested negative for the novel coronavirus on December 22 after four persons on the sets of the movie tested positive for the same.

Rajinikanth, who underwent a renal transplant in 2016 and had confined himself to his Poes Garden residence in Chennai for about eight months before he decided to complete the shooting, was under isolation since Tuesday, though he tested negative for Covid-19.

The actor, who arrived in Hyderabad on December 13 along with his elder daughter Aishwaryaa, has been shooting for Annatthe inside the sprawling Ramoji Studios till four members of the crew were infected with Covid-19.

Rajinikanth was admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad on Friday morning and will undergo further investigations on Saturday. The hospital said his blood pressure showed severe fluctuations and needed further evaluation for which he has been admitted to the hospital. Aishwaryaa is with him in Hyderabad.

“He will be investigated and monitored closely in the hospital till his blood pressure settles down before being discharged. Apart from fluctuating blood pressure and exhaustion he does not have any other symptoms and is hemodynamically stable,” the hospital said on Friday afternoon.

In an evening update, Apollo Hospitals said Rajinikanth is being monitored closely and medications to control his blood pressure are being carefully titrated. “He will remain in the hospital tonight and undergo further investigations tomorrow. He is stable and is resting. Family and treating doctors have requested all well-wishers to avoid visiting the hospital as he is not being allowed to meet any visitors,” the update added.

Doctors had advised Rajinikanth not to be among people as he is vulnerable to catching the Covid-19 infection due to his low immunity levels owing to the renal transplant. The producers of the film, Sun Pictures, had made elaborate arrangements, including creating a bio-bubble environment inside the hotel where Annatthe crew was staying, to minimise the risk of catching Covid-19.

Rajinikanth's hospitalisation also comes six days ahead of his proposed announcement of the day of his political party's launch to contest the 2021 Assembly elections on December 31.

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan and DMK President M K Stalin enquired about Rajinikanth's health. Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, actor Pawan Kalyan and several others also wished a speedy recovery for the actor.