Rajini is fine, says his wife Latha

Chennai, May 19 (PTI) In the wake of wild rumours and
speculative reports about his health, Tamil superstar
Rajinikanth's family and the hospital treating him said on
Thursday he was "fine, doing well" and there was nothing to
worry.
Latha Rajinikanth, wife of the 61-year-old actor, said
he was comfortable and recovering well after being treated for
problems relating to stomach and respiratory infection.
Dispelling the anxiety among thousands of fans, she
said he was moved to Intensive Care Unit of the Sri
Ramachandra Hospital here because it was a "protected place"
and he was getting "complete protection in a sterile
environment."
To a question as to what warranted his continuance in
ICU, she said "Rajini has a normal human body. He is not a
super human. He is down with infection."
Appealing to the fans and well-wishers not to believe
rumours about his health, Latha also asked them to respect
their privacy. "Don't worry about his health and don't get
scared by high-sounding medical terminology," she said.
"The media should not put out misleading
reports...please help us, please give the family our privacy,"
she told reporters.
Latha said initially Rajinikanth had a stomach
infection and later respiratory infection which caused some
imbalance. Steps are being taken to restore the balance, she
said.
She ruled out moving Rajinikanth abroad for treatment.
Apparently referring to the anxiety among those involved in
the making of his latest movie 'Rana', she said the film will
be on schedule. "Rana will be on schedule. It will go on
schedule," she said.
In its latest medical bulletin, the hospital said
Rajinikanth underwent hemodialysis and ultrafiltration.
"Rajnikanth fell ill with intestinal and
gastrointestinal problems and was treated elsewhere initially
and then admitted on May 13 to Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre,
to have a thorough examination to assess the problems."
It said because of "various consequences there was
fluid overload and it necessitated advanced treatment,
ultrafiltration and some amount of hemodialysis."
The bulletin said the actor was responding well and
"we are happy with the parameters before and after the
procedures in intensive care unit."
"We strongly hope that he can return to the private
room in a couple of days. In case of disease, symptom relief
is the first sign of recovery. It is so here in this case.The
laboratory parameters are improving which also indicates path
of recovery.The interventions in this case is Hemodialysis
and Ultrafiltration, which have helped him appreciably," it
said.

Rajini's doctor and a leading cardiologist Dr
Thanikachalam told reporters that it was a gastro-intestinal
problem that led to respiratory problem for which there is no
single cause.
He said the actor had some fluid collection from lungs
which had to be taken out. Seeking to play down reports that
he was on dialysis, the doctor said "haemo-dialysis is not
done only renal failure."
"Rajini is a hale and hearty man. He came here on
Friday. Before that he was elsewhere. For the next 48 to 72
hours we went through him thoroughly. He is fine...he took two
idlis and a vada this morning," he said, adding he also had
rasam made of banana stem for lunch.
"He is cheerful and he is fine...he cracked jokes in
the morning. What else you want me to say as a doctor?" he
asked.
Asked when Rajinikanth would be shifted out of the
ICU, he said: "If possible tomorrow, otherwise day after."
Rajinikant, who suffered from viral fever and
exhaustion recently, was admitted to the Sri Ramachandra
Hospital on May 13 days after he was discharged from another
hospital where he had been treated for allergic bronchitis and
viral fever.