India, Aug. 14 -- Lakshmi Manchu has 'so many memories' with Rajinikanth, or Rajini uncle as she calls him, that she doesn't know where to begin. The actor has known the Tamil superstar all her life, thanks to his decades-long friendship with her father, actor Mohan Babu. And now that the superstar is completing 50 years in cinema on 15 August, Lakshmi talks about getting a front-row seat to his success in a chat with Hindustan Times.

Growing up, for Lakshmi, Rajinikanth was her dad's best friend, who was present at her and her brothers, Vishnu Manchu and Manchu Manoj's, birthday parties. "He was our Rajini uncle, whom we loved because our dad would turn into a child around him.he still does. He just adored us, and we loved him for that....