Indian celluloid superstar Rajnikanth is known for his swagger and demigod-like following.

One just has to ask Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who even addressed the actor as "thalaiva" (boss), a term used by Rajnikanth's legion of fans.

However, according to a YouTube video posted by one Clarence Kuna three days ago, Mahathir's unannounced appearance at a forum discussing whether he is too old to be prime minister again was reminiscent of Rajinikanth's gangland flick from the 90s, "Baasha".

“I am just an ordinary Grab driver. But this Grab driver knows a lot of things. This is my first video,” says the person (photo) in the video in Tamil. It is not clear if the person in the video is Kuna.

He then goes on to talk about the Sinar Harian forum and how a professor (Kamarul Zaman Yusoff) pointed out that Mahathir is too old to be prime minister again, following which a KiniTV clip of his speech was shown.

When the camera zoomed in on Kamarul, the person in the video remarks: “This is the villain in our movie. He is making point after point but...

“Suddenly Tun Mahathir appears just like how Rajini entered in Baasha,” he adds, and sings the theme song from the movie which, among others, states, “there he comes like a lion, there he comes without fear”.

When the clip zoomed in on another panellist, fitness instructor Kevin Zahri, the person says, “There are no heroines in our movie but we have him, an exercise coach. Nowadays, even exercise teachers are talking about politics.”

As an agitated Kamarul reappeared on screen, the person says, “Look at our villain now... can't seem to find his bearings and his speech is upside down.”

He then goes on to address Kamarul, “Professor Sir, go ahead and speak. But why are you afraid when Tun (Mahathir) is before you? You must keep talking under such circumstances, only then we will know how brave you are.”

Kamarul had become the butt of jokes following the forum but the professor has remained adamant that he did not feel intimidated by Mahathir's presence.