Rajnikant watches preview of 'Sivaji' with Naidu

A day before his much-awaited "Sivaji" hits the screens, Tamil superstar Rajnikant Thursday watched a special preview of the film here along with Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu - keeping a promise he had made to the politician.

Rajnikant, popularly known as Rajni and one of India's highest paid actors, flew to Hyderabad on a special aircraft. He watched the film with Naidu and other senior leaders of the main opposition Telugu Desam Party at Prasad Labs.

To a question by newsmen on whether he wanted to be called the king of Indian cinema, he said with humility: "I am the king but Amitabh Bachchan is the emperor."

The actor said he had promised Naidu during the shooting of the film that he would watch the preview with him. "I had made a similar promise during the making of 'Chandramukhi' but could not fulfil it," he said.

When asked about the film, Rajnikant said it was getting good response.

The Tamil and Telugu versions of the film, tickets for which have been sold out days ahead creating box office history, will hit theatres Friday.

Film distributor Bellakonda Suresh said the Telugu version was being released in 300 theatres in Andhra Pradesh.

The film has evoked frenzied response from diehard Rajnikant fans. It is being released in 40 theatres in Hyderabad city alone.

Breaking all records, even for the movies of the most popular Telugu stars, "Sivaji" is commanding a whopping Rs.1,500 per ticket in the black market.