VijayTamil Actor – Movies List & Song Lyrics

Following a stint as a child actor in the 1980s, Vijay made his debut as a leading man in Naalaiya Theerpu (1992), directed by his father S. A. Chandrasekhar. He rose to fame with romance films such as Poove Unakkaga (1996), Love Today (1997), Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997), Thullatha Manamum Thullum (1999), Kushi (2000), Priyamaanavale (2000), Friends (2001) before transitioning into an action star with Thirumalai (2003), Ghilli (2004), Madhurey (2004), Thirupaachi (2005) and Pokkiri (2007). From the 2010s onward, he starred in major commercial successes including Thuppakki (2012), Kaththi (2014), Theri (2016), Mersal (2017), Sarkar (2018), Bigil (2019), Master (2021), Leo (2023) and The Greatest of All Time (2024) which rank among the highest-grossing Tamil films.

Beyond his film career, Vijay cultivated a fan following, which he consolidated into the social welfare organisation Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (VMI) in 2009. Through VMI, he engaged in extensive philanthropic activities across Tamil Nadu. In many of his later films, such as Kaththi and Sarkar, he cultivated the image of an angry protagonist fighting against corruption, injustice, and social inequality, which frequently brought him into conflict with the state's ruling political establishment.

In February 2024, Vijay announced his retirement from cinema and his formal entry into politics. He launched the TVK, a secular and egalitarian party but an alternative to the established Dravidian parties. The TVK secured 108 seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, emerging as the single-largest party and breaking the nearly half-century-long political duopoly of the DMK and the AIADMK. With the support of several smaller allied parties, Vijay was sworn in as chief minister of Tamil Nadu on 10 May 2026.

Chandrasekaran Joseph Vijay was born on 22 June 1974 in Madras, at the Government Women and Children’s Hospital in Egmore. His father, Chandrasekaran, is a film director and his mother, Shoba, is a playback singer and vocalist. His father is a lapsed Catholic and his mother is an adherent of Hinduism. Vijay had a sister, Vidhya, who died when she was two years old. Vijay did his schooling initially at Fathima school, Kodambakkam and later at Balalok school, Virugambakkam. He pursued a bachelor's degree in visual communication from Loyola College, but dropped out early to focus on his acting career.

Vijay made his debut as a child actor in the Tamil film Vetri, produced by P. S. Veerappa in 1984. He then performed in Kudumbam (1984), Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), Vasantha Raagam (1986), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987) and Ithu Engal Neethi (1988), which were all directed by his father.

Vijay played the lead role for the first time in Naalaiya Theerpu at the age of 18 in 1992. The film failed at the box office, with Vijay receiving bitter criticism for his looks and performance. Chandrasekhar decided then to cast him alongside an established hero Vijayakanth, who agreed to the project in Senthoorapandi (1993). The film was a hit, boosting Vijay's popularity with the masses. In 1994, Rasigan directed again by his father, Vijay became popular as "Ilaya Thalapathy" (Young Commander). He also made his debut as a singer. In 1995, the romantic action Deva, was a box office hit and completed the 100-day run in cinema halls. Vijay took leading roles in films such as Rajavin Parvaiyile, in which he co-starred with actor Ajith Kumar, followed by Vishnu and the romantic drama Chandralekha.

In early 1996, the romantic comedy film Coimbatore Mappillai was a hit at the box office. This was followed by Poove Unakkaga, directed by Vikraman, which according to him, gave him his initial break and popularity. His subsequent films that year were Vasantha Vaasal, Maanbumigu Maanavan and Selvaa. In 1997, Vijay appeared in Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen, Love Today and Once More, and in the latter he shared the screen with veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan. In Nerrukku Ner, he starred with actor Suriya's marked debut in the industry. Then, Vijay attracted the family audience through Fazil's Kadhalukku Mariyadhai. This film earned actor Vijay his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor. He was awarded Kalaimaamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu for his role. In 1998, he continued to star in romantic films such as Ninaithen Vandhai, Priyamudan and Nilaave Vaa. In 1999, the romantic drama Thullatha Manamum Thullum was a blockbuster success and helped Vijay create a fan base in Kerala. Vijay won the MGR Honorary Award and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film (second prize). The next released was Endrendrum Kadhal, Nenjinile, and Minsara Kanna. In 2000, he appeared in his 25th film, Kannukkul Nilavu, alongside commercially successful romantic films, Kushi and Priyamaanavale. In 2001, his box office successes included Friends, Badri and Shahjahan, and in 2002, he starred in the action film Thamizhan alongside Priyanka Chopra. Later, he appeared in the romantic film Youth and the action film Bagavathi in the same year.

Vijay began 2003 with Vaseegara and Pudhiya Geethai.