It's now or never, Rajinikanth said dramatically as he announced finally on December 3 that he would join politics. This comes after years of suspense. “I am ready to sacrifice my life for the Tamil people,” he declared passionately, not sounding unlike the larger-than-life action heroes he has played in his movies. The superstar, who turns 70 next week, will announce his party on New Year's Eve and launch it in January, five months before the Tamil Nadu election. One of India's highest paid actors, Rajinikanth said with "huge support from people" his party would bring "honest, transparent, corruption-free, caste-less, secular and spiritual politics" in the state. With this new move, the former bus conductor-turned-star moves from a cameo in politics to a leading role.