Chennai: Filmmaker SA Chandrasekhar, father of actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, spoke candidly about his son’s journey from cinema to politics at a recent event organised by Behindwoods in Chennai. Reflecting on Vijay’s film choices and political aspirations, Chandrasekhar said that while his son could have continued acting and earning far more money, he chose a different path driven by a sense of social responsibility.
As Chandrasekhar began speaking about Vijay, loud cheers from the audience forced him to pause momentarily. Addressing the crowd, he said, “My son Vijay… in general, money isn’t the only thing in life. He can easily act and earn a lot of money. I am talking about your TVK leader. But instead, all he wants to do is serve the people of Tamil Nadu. With this thought in his mind… there might be many reasons for it.”
Films That Shaped a Political Mindset
Drawing parallels between Vijay and the late legendary actor-turned-chief minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), Chandrasekhar suggested that cinema itself played a role in shaping his son’s political consciousness.
“Some of the films he acted in might also be the reason. They sow seeds in an actor’s heart. MGR acted in such films and became a leader. Likewise, in this generation, Vijay did many films which instilled social consciousness within him,” he said.
Special Credit for AR Murugadoss
Chandrasekhar also credited filmmaker AR Murugadoss, who shared the stage with him at the event, for influencing Vijay’s career direction.
“AR Murugadoss is one of the filmmakers who did that,” he said, recalling a rare emotional moment involving his son.
“In the beginning of his career, I would accompany Vijay when he listened to scripts. He would silently enjoy the narration without saying a word. But after the first narration of Thuppakki (2012), Vijay hugged Murugadoss. That film is a cult today because of that screenplay,” Chandrasekhar added.
Vijay’s Final Film Before Politics
Vijay was last seen in Venkat Prabhu’s 2024 film The GOAT. The actor has announced that he is stepping away from cinema to focus on politics and contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections.
His final film, H Vinoth’s Jana Nayagan, is scheduled for a Pongal release on January 9, 2026, marking the end of his acting career—at least for now—as he prepares to begin a new chapter in public life.