In an age of headlines dominated by greed, a story of pure integrity has resonated at the heart of India’s biggest superstar. Today, Thalaivar Rajinikanth invited sanitation worker Padma to meet him at Poes Garden to personally honour her for an extraordinary act of honesty. So touched by her story, the Superstar gifted her a gold chain and ceremonial shawl – identifying her as a beacon of human dignity and selflessness.
The Act of Honesty that Shook the City
In the middle of January 2026, while doing her routine sanitation duties in the high-traffic streets of T. Nagar, Padma came across a small, discarded pouch. To her surprise, the bag contained 45 sovereigns of gold jewelry worth about ₹45 lakh. Though such a discovery tempted many, Padma didn’t think twice about it. She lives in a rented house while having a humble job and promptly notified her superiors at the Greater Chennai Corporation as well as handing over the valuables to the Pondy Bazaar Police.
Reunited with the Rightful Owner
Eventually, the police were able to trace the jewelry back to its owner, a local trader, Ramesh, who had accidentally left the bag on a vendor’s table after being distracted by a phone call. The family was beyond relieved, but the city was more impressed with the woman who helped in bringing them together.
A Chain of Appreciation
Rajinikanth is not by far the first to acknowledge Padma’s nobility. Before, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had invited her to the Secretariat, handing her a cheque for ₹1 lakh and calling her an "inspiration to all citizens." But for Padma and her family, the meeting with Rajinikanth was a personal dream come true.
They went viral on social media, while fans praised the performer for his humility, posting pictures of the Superstar mingling with the sanitation worker and her family. “Padma’s honesty is a lesson for everybody. During an era of materialism she has shown that integrity begets the greatest wealth," Rajinikanth reportedly told her in their meeting.
A Legacy of Integrity
Interestingly, Padma’s family carries on the heritage of honesty. It would have been very hard for Rajinikanth - who works on his forthcoming film Jailer 2 - to let millions of his followers down without sharing the small but meaningful act of helping people find their own humanity - this is a way reminder that a “Superstar” can see a virtue in the common man, and make that virtue an honour.
