If all goes according to plan, June 22, 2025, could mark the final time fans celebrate the birthday of "film star" Vijay. By this time next year, H. Vinoth's much-anticipated Jana Nayagan, Vijay’s last film before his full-fledged political debut, would have completed its run. With his transition into politics as the founding president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay may soon leave behind his “Thalapathy” title for good unless, of course, he reconsiders.

Vijay, who turns 51 this year, has been one of Indian cinema’s biggest box office draws since making his debut as a leading man in Naalaiya Theerpu (1992), directed by his father S.A. Chandrasekhar. Though his entry into films was backed by his father, Vijay has shared that Chandrasekhar was initially hesitant to launch him as a hero.

Frustrated by his father's reluctance, Vijay once ran away from home, though in a rather lighthearted fashion. Recalling the incident on the celebrity talk show Koffee with Anu, Vijay admitted, “I wasn’t good in studies, and I kept asking my father to introduce me in films, but he refused, saying it wouldn’t work out. I decided to run away but didn’t know where to go. So, I left a note at home and went to watch a movie at Udhayam Theatre. My plan was to return after two hours, but my father found me there and brought me back.”

Chandrasekhar himself has recounted this story, albeit with a slight twist. In his version, Vijay left the house in the morning and didn’t return until evening. After a frantic search, Chandrasekhar eventually found his son at the theatre, thanks to a watchman who recognised him.

Behind Chandrasekhar’s initial resistance lay personal tragedy. The director has shared that he had once hoped Vijay would pursue medicine, especially after the family lost Vijay’s younger sister to blood cancer when she was just two years old. Vijay was ten at the time.

Despite this rocky beginning, Vijay’s rise to superstardom has been remarkable. Since Puli (2015), he has maintained an unbroken streak of commercial successes. Even films that received mixed reviews, such as Beast (2022), Varisu (2023), and The Greatest of All Time (2024), have performed strongly at the box office. His decision to step away from cinema has therefore come as a surprise to many and a heartbreak to his ardent fan base.

If Jana Nayagan truly marks his cinematic swan song, fans will have only their memories and decades of films to cherish as Vijay trades the big screen for the political stage.

Source : Indian Express
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