One of South India's biggest superstars has made the big leap from cinema to politics. After years of delivering back-to-back blockbusters and building a massive fan base as a larger-than-life hero, Thalapathy Vijay surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from acting in 2024 and forming his own political party.
Vijay, lovingly called Thalapathy by his fans, has now jumped into Tamil Nadu politics with his party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). Today, May 4, the Assembly election results will decide if this on-screen hero can become a real political force — and possibly even the state’s next Chief Minister.
Vijay started his journey as a lead actor in 1992 with Naalayya Theerpu when he was just 18. The film didn’t do well, but his father, veteran director S.A. Chandrasekhar, kept backing him and gave him several more chances.
The late 1990s saw him connecting with audiences through romantic hits which include Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, but people did not anticipate his eventual success as a major star. The entire situation underwent a transformation when Ghilli was released in 2004. The film shattered box office records and became the first Tamil movie to cross ₹50 crore domestically, beating even MGR’s old record.
From then on, Vijay went from strength to strength with massive hits like Thuppakki, Mersal, Master, and Leo. He has acted in 68 films so far and commands a huge, cross-generational fan following across Tamil Nadu.
His fans call him Thalapathy, which means “Commander,” and it fits perfectly. Many of his films have carried strong political messages. The 2013 movie Thalaivaa had the tagline Time to Lead while the movies Sarkar, Kaththi, and Master included social and political elements throughout their entire duration. Even the title of his final film, Jana Nayagan (Leader of the People), felt like a clear hint about his plans.
In February 2024, Vijay formally entered politics and said goodbye to acting. He contested from two seats- Perambur and Trichy in the April 23, 2026, elections, which saw a massive 85.1% voter turnout. The excitement has been electric, and now all eyes are on today’s results.
