Superstar Rajinikanth on Tuesday announced he will not take the political plunge and start a party as announced earlier, citing his frail health. “Without entering electoral politics, will serve the people. This decision of mine will disappoint my fans and people but please forgive me,” he said in a statement today.

Discharged from a Hyderabad hospital on Sunday after being treated for blood pressure fluctuations, the top actor expressed fears over those accompanying him in his possible political journey facing “mental and economic” problems in the due course. He indicated he did not want to sound chivalrous by saying he will join politics despite his severe health concerns and that he did not want to “make a victim” of his supporters now.

“Therefore, I inform with great regret I am unable to come to politics by floating a political party. Only I know the pain behind making this announcement,” the 70-year-old actor said in a statement, months after he said he will float his own outfit in January and face the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.

He, however, said he will serve people in whatever ways he can without entering electoral politics.