In the midst of hype over their political entry, the top two actors of Tamil film industry, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, today shared the dias at a function here.

Special Correspondent

The veteran actors were at a function where the pooja for the film 'Kizhakku Africavil Raju' (Raju in East Africa) was being conducted.

Rajinikanth, who had announced on December 31 that he would form his party before the next state assembly polls, snapped the clapboard and Haasan, set to embark on a political tour next month, inaugurated the shoot.

The film is being planned as a sequel "in motion capture technology" to AIADMK founder and former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran starrer, the 1973 super hit 'Ulagam Sutrum Valiban,' film industry sources said.

In the fuction "The term Dravidian must be expanded beyond Tamil Nadu to all southern states to get a better deal from the Centre" actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan said today.

"Dravidian is not related to Tamil Nadu alone. If we celebrate Dravidian across South India this discrimination would end. We could speak in chorus with Delhi," he said.

Earlier in a tamil weekly actor wrote that Tamil Nadu was among the top states contributing significantly to the nation's tax revenue. "Some say that (the Centre) is collecting taxes here (Tamil Nadu) and using it to develop north Indian states. My opinion is that is how it works in a joint family".

Kamal Haasan let out a clarion call to the chief ministers of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala to find pride in embracing their Dravidian identities.

To illustrate his opinion, Kamal cited the example of Lord Shiva. "There is no shame in being known as the Shiva of south India. It just shows that He is omnipresent in all the (southern) states. Dravidianism is like (Shiva)," he wrote, before adding a disclaimer : "I am not advocating the dissolution of Tamil or other languages to create a combined, common tongue. Ethnicity, self-respect and love for your language should not change. This applies to all of India. (What I advocate) is what Nehru observed - unity in diversity."

Earlier on wednesday when Rajini been Asked what would be his stand in case state assembly polls were held in six months, Rajinikanth told reporters: "I will face it definitely."

He extended his greetings to Haasan on announcing his political entry.

Asked to react on Rajinikanth's views, Haasan expressed his support for the same saying, "Time is a good medicine for everything. I second it."

To a question if parties in the state followed the principles of late AIADMK founder and former chief minister M G Ramachandran, Rajini said "yes definitely, to some extent." State Ministers C Vijayabaskar and Kadambur C Raju, were present at the function.