DEHLI (Web Desk)-C Joseph Vijay’s swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10 has marked one of the biggest political upsets in the state’s recent history. His party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), defeated both the DMK and the AIADMK — two political giants that had dominated Tamil Nadu politics for decades. With this victory, Vijay has joined the ranks of legendary actor-politicians such as N. T. Rama Rao, M. G. Ramachandran, and J. Jayalalithaa, whose popularity in cinema translated into mass political influence.
Long before Vijay formally entered politics, many in Tamil Nadu already viewed him as a future leader. Bengali actor Tota Roy Chowdhury recently shared an interesting memory from the sets of Kaththi, directed by A. R. Murugadoss, which now seems almost prophetic.
Tota, who played the role of Vivek Banerjee in the film, recalled filming an intense scene alongside Vijay in 2013. He delivered a lengthy page of dialogue in a single take while Vijay gave cues during the shot. The performance impressed the entire crew, who responded with loud applause. Shortly afterward, Tota was unexpectedly called by Vijay’s secretary. Initially nervous, he assumed he might have done something wrong. Instead, he found Vijay waiting to personally congratulate him.
According to Tota, Vijay greeted him warmly, offered him coffee, and spoke with great humility. Vijay asked about his background, admitted he was not fully familiar with Tota’s work in Bengali cinema, and praised his performance. Tota described the interaction as simple yet deeply respectful, saying Vijay came across as an extremely grounded and polite person despite his massive stardom.
What stood out even more was the reaction of the assistant directors on set. They were shocked that Vijay had taken the time to sit and chat with him casually. Tota recalled them saying, “He is the future Chief Minister of our state.” At the time, he did not fully understand the weight of that statement, but years later, after Vijay’s rise in politics, the memory feels remarkably significant.
Vijay launched TVK in February 2024 and chose to contest independently without alliances, building his campaign through direct public engagement and statewide rallies — a strategy that ultimately transformed Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
