V
Vijay
Actor, Additional CreditsBorn June 22, 1974 (51 years)
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.
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
| 2026 | Jana Nayagan · as Thalapathy Vetri Kondan 'vetri' |
| 2024 | The Greatest of All Time · as Gandhi / Jeevan |
| 2023 | Leo · as Parthiban / Leo Das |
| 2023 | Varisu · as Vijay Rajendran |
| 2022 | Beast · as Veera Raghavan |
| 2021 | Master · as John 'jd' Durairaj |
| 2019 | Bigil · as Michael 'bigil' Rayappan / Rayappan |
| 2018 | Sarkar · as Sundar Ramasamy |
| 2017 | Mersal · as Vetrimaaran/ Vetri/ Maaran |
| 2017 | Bairavaa · as Bairavaa |
| 2016 | Theri · as Vijay Kumar / Joseph Kuruvilla |
| 2015 | Puli · as Marudheeran / Pulivendhan |
| 2014 | Kaththi · as Kathiresan / Jeevanandham |
| 2014 | Jilla · as Sakthi |
| 2013 | Thalaivaa · as Vishwa Bhai |
| 2012 | Thuppakki · as Jagadish |
| 2012 | Nanban · as Panchavan 'pari' Pariventhan / Kosaksi 'pappu' Pasapugazh |
| 2011 | Velayudham · as Velayudham |
| 2011 | Kaavalan · as Bhoominathan |
| 2010 | Sura · as Sura |
| 2009 | Vettaikaaran · as 'police' Ravi |
| 2009 | Villu · as Pugazh And Major Saravanan |
| 2008 | Kuruvi · as Vetrivel Aka Velu |
| 2007 | Azhagiya Tamilmagan · as Guru / Prasad |
| 2007 | Pokkiri · as Tamizh |
| 2006 | Aathi · as Aathi |
| 2005 | Sivakaasi · as Sivakasi / Muthappa |
| 2005 | Sachien · as Sachin |
| 2005 | Sukran · as Sukran |
| 2005 | Thirupaachi · as Sivagiri |
| 2004 | Madurey · as Madureyvel |
| 2004 | Ghilli · as Saravanavelu |
| 2004 | Udhaya · as Udhaya Kumar |
| 2003 | Thirumalai · as Thirumalai |
| 2003 | Pudhiya Geethai · as Sarathy |
| 2003 | Vaseegara · as Bhoopathy |
| 2002 | Bagavathi · as Bagavathi |
| 2002 | Youth · as Shiva |
| 2002 | Thamizhan · as Surya |
| 2001 | Shahjahan · as Ashok |
| 2001 | Badri · as Badri |
| 2001 | Friends · as Aravindan |
| 2000 | Priyamanavale · as Vijay Vishwanathan |
| 2000 | Kushi · as Shiva |
| 2000 | Kannukkul Nilavu · as Gautham Prabhakar |
| 1999 | Minsara Kanna · as Kannan |
| 1999 | Nenjinile · as Karunkaran |
| 1999 | Thulladha Manamum Thullum · as Kutty |
| 1998 | Nilaave Vaa · as Siluvai |
| 1998 | Priyamudan · as Vasanth |
| 1998 | Ninaithen Vandhai · as Gokula Krishnan Gounder (gokul) |
| 1997 | Kadhalukku Mariyadhai · as Jeevanandhan |
| 1997 | Love Today · as Ganesh |
| 1997 | Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen · as Kannan |
| 1996 | Selva · as Selva |
| 1996 | Maanbumigu Maanavan · as Siva |
| 1996 | |
| 1996 | Poove Unakkaga · as Raja |
| 1996 | Coimbatore Mappillai · as Balu |
| 1995 | Chandralekha · as Rahim |
| 1995 | Vishnu · as Vishnu |
| 1995 | Rajavin Parvaiyile · as Raja |
| 1995 | Deva · as Deva |
| 1988 | Ithu Engal Neethi · as Child Artist |
| 1987 | Sattam Oru Vilayattu · as Child Artist |
| 1986 | Vasantha Ragam · as Child Artist |
| 1985 | Naan Sigappu Manithan · as Child Artist (uncredited Role) |
| 1984 | Kudumbam · as Child Artist |
| 1984 | Vetri · as Child Artist (uncredited Role) |