Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar

Vijay initially attended Fathima Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Kodambakkam. He later transferred to Balalok Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Virugambakkam to complete his primary and secondary schooling.

He subsequently enrolled at Loyola College in Chennai to pursue a degree in Visual Communications. However, driven by a deep passion for acting, he eventually dropped out of college to fully dedicate himself to a career in the film industry.

Vijay's acting career began early under the guidance of his father, director S. A. Chandrasekhar. He made his debut as a child artist in the 1984 film Vetri and continued with several uncredited roles. His first lead role came in 1992 with the film Naalaiya Theerpu, though his major breakthrough occurred with Poove Unakkaga in 1996, which established him as a bankable star.

The late 1990s and early 2000s saw Vijay solidifying his romantic hero image with successful films like Kadhalukku Mariyadhai and Thulladha Manamum Thullum. He seamlessly transitioned into an action superstar with the 2003 blockbuster Thirumalai. This was followed by industry hits like Ghilli in 2004 and Pokkiri in 2007, which catapulted his fame across South India and earned him the enduring title of Thalapathy.

The 2010s marked an era of unprecedented box office dominance for Vijay, frequently collaborating with acclaimed directors like AR Murugadoss and Atlee. Films such as Thuppakki, Kaththi, Mersal, and Bigil shattered numerous box office records. He consistently tackled social issues within commercial cinematic frameworks, expanding his appeal among diverse audiences and cementing his status as Kollywood's leading man.

In the 2020s, he continued his winning streak with massive hits like Master and Leo, further expanding his pan-Indian reach. However, in February 2024, Vijay officially announced his entry into politics by founding his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). He declared his intention to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, aiming for a broader societal impact.

As of 2026, Vijay is actively campaigning as the TVK chief while completing his final cinematic commitment, widely known as Thalapathy 69. He has formally filed his nomination from the Perambur constituency, officially declaring a net worth of over ₹603 crores in his election affidavit. This move marks the definitive end of an illustrious acting career and the beginning of his dedicated political journey.

Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar was born to S. A. Chandrasekhar, a prominent Tamil film director, and Shoba Chandrasekhar, a classical playback singer. He had a younger sister named Vidhya, who tragically passed away when she was only two years old. This devastating loss profoundly affected Vijay, transforming him from a talkative child into a much more reserved individual.

In 1999, Vijay married Sangeeta Sornalingam, a Sri Lankan Tamil fan whom he met in the United Kingdom. They have two children together: a son named Jason Sanjay and a daughter named Divya Shasha. Both of his children have made brief cameo appearances in his films, though they have largely stayed away from the public spotlight.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Vijay is deeply committed to philanthropy through his organization, Vijay Makkal Iyakkam. Over the years, he has funded free education, distributed food to the underprivileged, and provided relief materials during natural disasters like the 2015 Chennai floods. His philanthropic network has now formed the grassroots foundation of his political party, TVK.