Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, known mononymously as Vijay, is a multifaceted South Indian personality. He’s renowned not only for his acting prowess but also his singing talent and growing influence in Tamil Nadu politics. Let’s delve into his life and career.

Biography/Wiki

Born on June 22, 1974, in Chennai, India, Vijay is one of Kollywood’s highest-paid actors. His exceptional talent spans acting, singing, and dancing. He boasts a massive global following, with his films screened across five continents and more than eighty countries. His films are dubbed into several languages, including Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi, and Mandarin Chinese. The media affectionately calls him “Thalapathy,” meaning commander.

He began his journey as a child artist and has since become a prominent figure in Kollywood, with an impressive filmography.

Physical Appearance

Vijay stands at 5’10” and weighs approximately 75 kg. His body measurements are approximately 40-30-14. He has brown eyes and black hair.

Family, Wife & Religion

Born into a Roman Catholic family, Vijay’s father, S. A. Chandrasekhar, is a Tamil film director, and his mother, Shobha, is a playback singer and Carnatic vocalist. He had a sister, Vidhya, who sadly passed away at a young age.

He married Sangeetha Sornalingam, a British Sri Lankan Tamil, on August 25, 1999. The couple has a son, Jason Sanjay, and a daughter, Divya Shasha.

Both children have made minor appearances in his films.

Career

Actor

Vijay’s education included attending Fathima Matriculation Higher Secondary School and Balalok Matriculation Higher Secondary School. He briefly attended Loyola College to study Visual Communications before pursuing his acting career full-time.

His acting debut as a child artist was in the 1984 film Vetri, directed by his father. He appeared in several other films as a child actor before his adult acting debut in Naalaiya Theerpu (1992). His breakthrough role came in 1996 with Poove Unakkaga.

He has since starred in numerous successful films, earning critical acclaim and numerous awards. His career highlights include the box office successes of Ghilli, Pokkiri, Vettaikaaran, Kaavalan, Thuppakki, and Mersal. He has also appeared in Bollywood films and international film festivals.

Vijay has also established himself as a successful playback singer, with a significant number of songs to his credit.

Politician

Vijay’s foray into politics began with the establishment of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) political party on February 2, 2024. He has since participated in political rallies, expressing his intentions to contest in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. He has openly criticized various political parties and figures in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.

Awards

Vijay has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including prestigious awards such as Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, Edison Awards, Vijay Awards, and more. His achievements extend internationally, with nominations and awards in foreign film festivals.

Facts

Some interesting facts about Vijay include:

• His films have had several box office clashes with Shah Rukh Khan’s films.
• He’s appeared multiple times on Forbes Celebrity 100 list.
• He donates books to underprivileged students instead of extravagant birthday celebrations.

Social Work

Vijay is a known philanthropist, founding the social welfare organization Vijay Makkal Iyakkam. This organization has been involved in various relief efforts, including assisting those affected by natural disasters and providing educational support to underprivileged students.

Key Milestones in Vijay’s Career