Vijay
Vijay (born June 22, 1974), credited at birth as Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, is an Indian actor, playback singer, and politician who became one of the most prominent stars in Tamil cinema. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he established himself as one of the industry’s most bankable actors, known for his strong box office pull, mass appeal, dance performances, and versatility across action, comedy, romance, and drama. He rose to prominence with a string of commercially successful films including Poove Unakkaga (1996), Ghilli (2004), Pokkiri (2007), Thuppakki (2012), Mersal (2017), Sarkar (2018), Master (2021), Leo (2023). His films often blend commercial entertainment with social and political themes, further strengthening his popularity among audiences. Popularly known by the honorific “Thalapathy” (“Commander”), Vijay built a massive fan following in India and internationally. In 2024, Vijay launched his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), marking his transition from cinema to public life. Following his announced retirement from acting after his final film Jana Nayagan (2026), he contested the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, leading TVK in its first electoral outing. In a historic debut, TVK emerged as a major political force, and Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026, becoming one of the few Indian film stars to successfully transition into top-level politics.
Filmography
Jana Nayagan
as Thalapathy Vetri Kondan 'Vetri'
Jana Nayagan
as Thalapathy Vetri Kondan 'Vetri'
The Greatest of All Time
as Gandhi / Jeevan
The Greatest of All Time
as Gandhi / Jeevan
Leo
as Parthiban / Leo Das
Leo
as Parthiban / Leo Das
Varisu
as Vijay Rajendran
Varisu
as Vijay Rajendran
Beast
as Veera Raghavan
Beast
as Veera Raghavan
Master
as John 'JD' Durairaj
Master
as John 'JD' Durairaj
Bigil
as Michael 'Bigil' Rayappan / Rayappan
Bigil
as Michael 'Bigil' Rayappan / Rayappan
Sarkar
as Sundar Ramasamy
Sarkar
as Sundar Ramasamy
Mersal
as Vetrimaaran/ Vetri/ Maaran
Mersal
as Vetrimaaran/ Vetri/ Maaran
Bairavaa
as Bairavaa
Bairavaa
as Bairavaa
Theri
as Vijay Kumar / Joseph Kuruvilla
Theri
as Vijay Kumar / Joseph Kuruvilla
Puli
as Marudheeran / Pulivendhan
Puli
as Marudheeran / Pulivendhan
Kaththi
as Kathiresan / Jeevanandham
Kaththi
as Kathiresan / Jeevanandham
Jilla
as Sakthi
Jilla
as Sakthi
Thalaivaa
as Vishwa Bhai
Thalaivaa
as Vishwa Bhai
Thuppakki
as Jagadish
Thuppakki
as Jagadish
Rowdy Rathore
as Self
Rowdy Rathore
as Self
Nanban
as Panchavan 'Pari' Pariventhan / Kosaksi 'Pappu' Pasapugazh
Nanban
as Panchavan 'Pari' Pariventhan / Kosaksi 'Pappu' Pasapugazh
Velayudham
as Velayudham
Velayudham
as Velayudham
Kaavalan
as Bhoominathan
Kaavalan
as Bhoominathan
Sura
as Sura
Sura
as Sura
Vettaikaaran
as 'Police' Ravi
Vettaikaaran
as 'Police' Ravi
Villu
as Pugazh and Major Saravanan
Villu
as Pugazh and Major Saravanan
Pandhayam
as Himself (Special Appearance)
Pandhayam
as Himself (Special Appearance)
Kuruvi
as Vetrivel aka Velu
Kuruvi
as Vetrivel aka Velu
Azhagiya Tamil Magan
as Guru / Prasad
Azhagiya Tamil Magan
as Guru / Prasad
Pokkiri
as Tamizh
Pokkiri
as Tamizh
Aathi
as Aathi
Aathi
as Aathi
Sivakasi
as Sivakasi / Muthappa
Sivakasi
as Sivakasi / Muthappa
Sukran
as Sukran
Sukran
as Sukran
Sachein
as Sachin
Sachein
as Sachin
Thirupaachi
as Sivagiri
Thirupaachi
as Sivagiri
Madurey
as Madureyvel
Madurey
as Madureyvel
Ghilli
as Saravanavelu
Ghilli
as Saravanavelu
Udhaya
as Udhaya Kumar
Udhaya
as Udhaya Kumar
Thirumalai
as Thirumalai
Thirumalai
as Thirumalai
Puthiya Geethai
as Sarathy
Puthiya Geethai
as Sarathy
Vaseegara
as Bhoopathy
Vaseegara
as Bhoopathy
Bagavathi
as Bagavathi
Bagavathi
as Bagavathi
Youth
as Shiva
Youth
as Shiva
Thamizhan
as Surya
Thamizhan
as Surya
Shahjahan
as Ashok
Shahjahan
as Ashok
Badri
as Badri
Badri
as Badri
Friends
as Aravindan
Friends
as Aravindan
Priyamaanavale
as Vijay Vishwanathan
Priyamaanavale
as Vijay Vishwanathan
Kushi
as Shiva
Kushi
as Shiva
Kannukkul Nilavu
as Gautham Prabhakar
Kannukkul Nilavu
as Gautham Prabhakar
Minsara Kanna
as Kannan
Minsara Kanna
as Kannan
Nenjinile
as Karunkaran
Nenjinile
as Karunkaran
Endrendrum Kadhal
as Vijay
Endrendrum Kadhal
as Vijay
Thulladha Manamum Thullum
as Kutty
Thulladha Manamum Thullum
as Kutty
Nilaave Vaa
as Siluvai
Nilaave Vaa
as Siluvai
Priyamudan
as Vasanth
Priyamudan
as Vasanth
Ninaithen Vandhai
as Gokula Krishnan Gounder (Gokul)
Ninaithen Vandhai
as Gokula Krishnan Gounder (Gokul)
Kadhalukku Mariyaadai
as Jeevanandhan
Kadhalukku Mariyaadai
as Jeevanandhan
Nerrukku Ner
as Vijay
Nerrukku Ner
as Vijay
Once More
as Vijay
Once More
as Vijay
Love Today
as Ganesh
Love Today
as Ganesh
Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen
as Kannan
Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen
as Kannan
Selva
as Selva
Selva
as Selva
Maanbumigu Maanavan
as Siva
Maanbumigu Maanavan
as Siva
Vasantha Vaasal
Vasantha Vaasal
Poove Unakkaga
as Raja
Poove Unakkaga
as Raja
Coimbatore Mappillai
as Balu
Coimbatore Mappillai
as Balu
Chandralekha
as Rahim
Chandralekha
as Rahim
Vishnu
as Vishnu
Vishnu
as Vishnu
Rajavin Parvaiyile
as Raja
Rajavin Parvaiyile
as Raja
Deva
as Deva
Deva
as Deva
Rasigan
as Vijay
Rasigan
as Vijay
Sendhoorapandi
as Vijay
Sendhoorapandi
as Vijay
Naalaiya Theerpu
as Vijay
Naalaiya Theerpu
as Vijay
Ithu Engal Neethi
as Child Artist
Ithu Engal Neethi
as Child Artist
Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Child Artist (Uncredited Role)
Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Child Artist (Uncredited Role)
Vetri
as Child Artist (Uncredited Role)
Vetri
as Child Artist (Uncredited Role)