Published May 10, 2026 | 10:49 AM ⚊ Updated May 10, 2026 | 10:49 AM
C Joseph Vijay.
Synopsis: Vijay, once a reserved child actor turned superstar, founded Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in 2024 after decades of public engagement and welfare work. Despite family tensions and controversies, his fan network evolved into a political force. In just two years, TVK won 108 seats, enabling Vijay to become one of India’s youngest Chief Ministers, marking a dramatic rise in Tamil Nadu politics.
Actor-turned-politician Vijay has taken oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu just two years after launching his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
Beginning his life as a child actor, Vijay rose to become one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema before stepping away from films to enter politics with the promise of bringing change. Today, he has succeeded in forming the government in one of India’s most politically significant states.
Anyone who has known or spoken about Vijay often describes him first as a quiet and reserved person. Beyond the cheerful screen image that entertained millions of children and families, Vijay was known in real life as someone calm, introverted, and distant from excessive social interaction.
Yet today, he has transformed into the leader of a major political party, addressing massive crowds, winning public support, and ultimately assuming the office of Chief Minister.
According to Vijay and his parents, one of the biggest turning points in his life came during childhood, when he lost his two-year-old sister Vidya due to illness. The tragedy deeply affected him and reportedly turned him into a silent and emotionally withdrawn child. That phase, many believe, shaped the personality and determination that later defined his career.
Vijay began appearing in small roles in films directed by his father, filmmaker S. A. Chandrasekhar, while he was studying in school. While pursuing Visual Communication at Loyola College, he made his debut as a lead actor in the 1992 film Naalaya Theerpu, directed by his father. Though the film was not commercially successful, it introduced Vijay as a hero to Tamil cinema and the people of Tamil Nadu.
From there, Vijay went on to spend nearly 33 years in the film industry, acting in 69 films and eventually emerging as one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema. At the peak of his stardom, he chose to leave films behind and enter politics.
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Vijay officially announced and registered Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in February 2024. However, his political ambitions had reportedly existed for many years before that.
One example often cited by his fans is the 2013 film Thalaivaa, which carried the tagline “It’s Time to Lead.” Despite facing multiple controversies before release, the film created a strong emotional and political resonance among Vijay’s supporters.
Even before formally entering politics, Vijay had associated himself with several public causes and protest movements. He participated in demonstrations supporting Sri Lankan Tamils in 2008 and later joined Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement in Delhi in 2011.
In the years that followed, Vijay also voiced support for the Jallikattu protests, visited the family of NEET aspirant Anitha after her death in 2017, and met the families of victims killed in the Thoothukudi Sterlite protests police firing in 2018. These interventions strengthened the perception among his supporters that he was gradually preparing for a political role.
In 2009, Vijay officially launched his fan organisation, which later evolved into a large welfare network. The movement conducted educational award ceremonies, offered financial assistance to students, and carried out various welfare activities for youth and the public.
When Vijay launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in 2024, this fan network effectively became the foundation of the party. Office-bearers of the fan movement were converted into district and local-level party administrators.
After launching the party, Vijay made it clear that he did not want his family to dominate or control the organisation. His earlier experiences appear to have shaped that decision.
In 2020, Vijay’s father S. A. Chandrasekhar attempted to register a political party under the name “All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam.” Vijay publicly opposed the move, stating that he had no connection with the initiative and urging his fans not to join it.
The conflict escalated further in 2021, when Vijay approached a Chennai court seeking an injunction against 11 individuals, including his parents Shoba Chandrasekhar and S. A. Chandrasekhar, restraining them from using his name, photographs, or fan clubs for political meetings and activities.
At the time, tensions reportedly existed between Vijay and his father. Chandrasekhar believed it was the right moment for Vijay to enter politics and took several political initiatives on his own. Vijay, however, openly distanced himself from those actions, even warning that legal action would be taken against anyone misusing his name.
The episode created friction within the family, and Vijay reportedly stayed away from them for some time. However, after the formation of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, his parents gradually began appearing again at party-related events.
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Vijay’s political ambitions, which had existed for over two decades, finally took shape as Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in 2024.
Signs of his political entry had already become visible during the 2021 local body elections, when several members of Vijay’s fan movement openly contested. Across Tamil Nadu, many of these candidates campaigned using Vijay’s identity and influence, with some even winning seats. The elections were widely seen as an early test of Vijay’s political strength.
Following this, Vijay increasingly began expressing political views in public. Welfare initiatives carried out in his name, including educational awards for students, also intensified during this period.
By late 2023, reports began circulating that Vijay had firmly decided to enter politics and that work was underway to officially register his party with the Election Commission.
In February 2024, Vijay formally announced Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and declared that after completing his final film ‘Jananayagan’, he would fully dedicate himself to politics.
In the two years since the formation of the party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has faced multiple controversies and criticisms. These included allegations surrounding damage caused during party conferences, the deaths of 41 people in a stampede during an election campaign event in Karur, and legal scrutiny over alleged income concealment linked to Vijay.
Despite the controversies, Vijay, who remained the primary face of the party, managed to build massive public support even while conducting fewer public meetings compared to established political leaders.
The party eventually won 108 out of 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and, with the support of alliance partners, formed the government in the state.
Its leader, Vijay, has now emerged as one of India’s youngest Chief Ministers.
