Vijay
Birthday: 1974-06-22
Birthplace: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Gender: Male
Owned By: Unowned
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.
Credits
| Year | Title | Character | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Jana Nayagan | Thalapathy Vetri Kondan 'Vetri' | |
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2024-09-05 | The Greatest of All Time | Gandhi / Jeevan |
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2023-10-18 | Leo | Parthiban / Leo Das |
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2023-01-11 | Varisu | Vijay Rajendran |
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2022-04-12 | Beast | Veera Raghavan |
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2021-01-13 | Master | John 'JD' Durairaj |
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2019-10-17 | Bigil | Michael 'Bigil' Rayappan / Rayappan |
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2018-11-06 | Sarkar | Sundar Ramasamy |
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2017-10-18 | Mersal | Vetrimaaran/ Vetri/ Maaran |
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2017-01-12 | Bairavaa | Bairavaa |
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2016-04-14 | Theri | Vijay Kumar / Joseph Kuruvilla |
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2015-10-01 | Puli | Marudheeran / Pulivendhan |
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2014-10-22 | Kaththi | Kathiresan / Jeevanandham |
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2014-01-10 | Jilla | Sakthi |
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2013-08-20 | Thalaivaa | Vishwa Bhai |
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2012-11-13 | Thuppakki | Jagadish |
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2012-01-13 | Nanban | Panchavan 'Pari' Pariventhan / Kosaksi 'Pappu' Pasapugazh |
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2011-10-26 | Velayudham | Velayudham |
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2011-01-15 | Kaavalan | Bhoominathan |
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2010-04-30 | Sura | Sura |
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2009-12-18 | Vettaikaaran | Ravi |
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2009-01-12 | Villu | Pugazh and Major Saravanan |
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2008-05-03 | Kuruvi | Vetrivel aka Velu |
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2007-11-08 | Azhagiya Tamil Magan | Guru / Prasad |
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2007-01-11 | Pokkiri | Tamizh |
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2006-01-15 | Aathi | Aathi |
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2005-11-01 | Sivakasi | Sivakasi / Muthappa |
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2005-05-07 | Sukran | Sukran |
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2005-04-14 | Sachein | Sachin |
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2005-01-14 | Thirupaachi | Sivagiri |
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2004-08-29 | Madurey | Madureyvel |
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2004-04-17 | Ghilli | Saravanavelu |
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2004-03-28 | Udhaya | Udhaya Kumar |
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2003-10-24 | Thirumalai | Thirumalai |
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2003-05-08 | Puthiya Geethai | Sarathy |
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2003-01-15 | Vaseegara | Bhoopathy |
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2002-11-04 | Bagavathi | Bagavathi |
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2002-07-19 | Youth | Shiva |
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2002-04-12 | Thamizhan | Surya |
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2001-11-14 | Shahjahan | Ashok |
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2001-04-16 | Badri | Badri |
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2001-01-14 | Friends | Aravindan |
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2000-10-26 | Priyamaanavale | Vijay Vishwanathan |
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2000-05-19 | Kushi | Shiva |
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2000-01-14 | Kannukkul Nilavu | Gautham Prabhakar |
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1999-09-09 | Minsara Kanna | Kannan |
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1999-06-25 | Nenjinile | Karunkaran |
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1999-03-05 | Endrendrum Kadhal | Vijay |
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1999-01-29 | Thulladha Manamum Thullum | Kutty |
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1998-08-14 | Nilaave Vaa | Siluvai |
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1998-06-12 | Priyamudan | Vasanth |
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1998-04-10 | Ninaithen Vandhai | Gokula Krishnan Gounder (Gokul) |
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1997-12-18 | Kadhalukku Mariyaadai | Jeevanandhan |
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1997-09-01 | Nerrukku Ner | Vijay |
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1997-07-04 | Once More | Vijay |
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1997-05-09 | Love Today | Ganesh |
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1997-01-14 | Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen | Kannan |
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1996-12-01 | Selva | Selva |
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1996-03-21 | Vasantha Vaasal | |
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1996-03-01 | Maanbumigu Maanavan | Siva |
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1996-02-15 | Poove Unakkaga | Raja |
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1996-01-14 | Coimbatore Mappillai | Balu |
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1995-10-01 | Chandralekha | Rahim |
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1995-08-05 | Rajavin Parvaiyile | Raja |
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1995-08-01 | Vishnu | Vishnu |
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1995-02-17 | Deva | Deva |
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1994-07-08 | Rasigan | Vijay |
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1993-12-01 | Sendhoorapandi | Vijay |
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1992-12-11 | Naalaiya Theerpu | Vijay |
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1988-02-12 | Ithu Engal Neethi | Child Artist |
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1985-04-12 | Naan Sigappu Manithan | Child Artist (Uncredited Role) |
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1984-02-17 | Vetri | Child Artist (Uncredited Role) |