Actor Vijay on Sunday expressed gratitude towards fans for their support and encouragement after he took the political plunge and announced the name of his political party Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam.
Speculations were rife for some time about the popular actor making foray into Tamil Nadu politics and Vijay made the official announcement on Friday.
In a statement shared on the official X account of TVK – Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam, Vijay (49) said: “I profusely thank from the bottom of my heart respected leaders of various political parties, beloved film fraternity friends, affectionate brothers, sisters, and mothers of Tamil Nadu, my dearest and always encouraging media friends, last but not the least, my huge pillar of support ‘En Nenjil Kudiyirukkum Thozargal’ for wishing me on my new political journey for the welfare and victory of Tamil Nadu.”
In 2009, Vijay launched his own fan club Vijay Makkal Iyakkam The organization supported the AIADMK alliance in the 2011 assembly elections. The organization contested in the local body elections in Tamil Nadu in October 2021, securing victory in 115 out of the 169 contested seats. On 2 February 2024, Vijay announced the launch of a new political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
“I have decided to complete the film I have already committed to, without affecting the party work and completely involve myself in the politics of public service. I consider this as my gratitude towards the people of Tamil Nadu,” Thalapathy Vijay said earlier.
Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar is a south Indian actor, singer and politician. He works predominantly in Tamil cinema and has acted in over 65 films. He is one of the most commercially successful actors in Tamil cinema with multiple films amongst the highest grossing films of all time and is amongst the highest paid actors in India.
Born in Madras, Vijay made his debut as a child actor in the Tamil film Vetri in 1984. After a view roles as a child actor, he played the lead in the film Naalaiya Theerpu in 1992. Vijay continued doing lead roles for the next few years with mixed results, notable films amongst them included Poove Unakkaga, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, Thulladha Manamum Thullum, Kushi and Friends. In 1998, he was awarded Kalaimaamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu.