Vijay Indian actor and politician Vijay at a rally in 2025. (more) Vijay Indian actor and politician Also known as: Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar Written by Gitanjali Roy Gitanjali Roy is senior editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has over two decades of editorial experience across digital and broadcast media. Gitanjali Roy Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 4, 2026 •History Vijay (born June 22, 1974, Madras [now Chennai], Tamil Nadu, India) is an Indian actor and politician known for his work in Tamil films and is regarded as one of contemporary southern Indian cinema’s biggest and most bankable stars. He is noted for his mass appeal and the frenzy he inspires among fans, who popularly refer to him as Thalapathy (“Leader”). His 2026 release, Jana Nayagan (“People’s Hero”), will be his final film as a...

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