Known For
Acting
Born
Jun 22, 1974
Place of Birth
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Credits
78 titles
Vijay
Biography
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.
Known For
Filmography
Jana Nayagan
Thalapathy Vetri Kondan 'Vetri'
Karuppu
Thanks
The Greatest of All Time
Gandhi / Jeevan
Leo
Parthiban / Leo Das
Varisu
Vijay Rajendran
Love Today
Thanks
Beast
Veera Raghavan
Master
John 'JD' Durairaj
Bigil
Michael 'Bigil' Rayappan / Rayappan
Sarkar
Sundar Ramasamy
Mersal
Vetrimaaran/ Vetri/ Maaran
Bairavaa
Bairavaa
Theri
Vijay Kumar / Joseph Kuruvilla
Puli
Marudheeran / Pulivendhan
Kaththi
Kathiresan / Jeevanandham
Jilla
Sakthi
Thalaivaa
Vishwa Bhai
Thuppakki
Jagadish
Rowdy Rathore
Self
Nanban
Panchavan 'Pari' Pariventhan / Kosaksi 'Pappu' Pasapugazh
Velayudham
Velayudham
Kaavalan
Bhoominathan
Sura
Sura
Vettaikaaran
'Police' Ravi
Villu
Pugazh and Major Saravanan
Pandhayam
Himself (Special Appearance)
Kuruvi
Vetrivel aka Velu
Azhagiya Tamil Magan
Guru / Prasad
Pokkiri
Tamizh
Aathi
Aathi
Sivakasi
Sivakasi / Muthappa
Sukran
Sukran
Sachein
Sachin
Thirupaachi
Sivagiri
Madurey
Madureyvel
Ghilli
Saravanavelu
Udhaya
Udhaya Kumar
Thirumalai
Thirumalai
Puthiya Geethai
Sarathy
Vaseegara
Bhoopathy
Bagavathi
Bagavathi
Youth
Shiva
Thamizhan
Surya
Shahjahan
Ashok
Badri
Badri
Friends
Aravindan
Priyamaanavale
Vijay Vishwanathan
Kushi
Shiva
Kannukkul Nilavu
Gautham Prabhakar
Minsara Kanna
Kannan