Vijay, also known as Thalapathy Vijay, is a popular Indian actor and playback singer who primarily works in Tamil cinema. He is one of the most bankable and successful actors in the industry, with a massive fan following not just in Tamil Nadu, but also in other parts of India and abroad. In this biography, we will take a look at Vijay’s life, career, achievements, and other interesting facts.
Early Life and Family:
Vijay was born on June 22, 1974, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to filmmaker and producer S. A. Chandrasekhar and Shoba Chandrasekhar, a playback singer. His birth name is Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar. He has a sister named Vidhya Chandrasekhar, who is a doctor. Vijay completed his schooling from Balalok Matriculation Higher Secondary School and went on to study visual communications at Loyola College, Chennai.
Career:
Vijay made his acting debut as a child artist in the 1984 film “Vetri” which was directed by his father. He then appeared in a few more films as a child artist. He made his debut as a lead actor in the 1992 film “Naalaya Theerpu” which was also directed by his father. However, the film did not do well at the box office.
It was his performance in the 1996 film “Poove Unakkaga” that earned him his breakthrough as an actor. The film was a huge commercial success and established Vijay as a bankable actor in Tamil cinema. He went on to deliver several hit films in the 1990s, including “Kadhalukku Mariyadhai”, “Ninaithen Vandhai”, “Thulladha Manamum Thullum”, and “Kushi”.
In the 2000s, Vijay continued his successful run with films like “Ghilli”, “Thirupaachi”, “Sivakasi”, and “Pokkiri”. These films not only did well at the box office but also established Vijay as a mass hero with a huge fan following. He has since delivered several more successful films, including “Thuppakki”, “Kaththi”, “Mersal”, and “Master”.
Apart from acting, Vijay has also sung several songs in his films, including “Google Google” from “Thuppakki”, “Verithanam” from “Bigil”, and “Kutti Story” from “Master”. He has also been a brand ambassador for several products and has hosted a few seasons of the Tamil version of the reality show “Bigg Boss”.
Personal Life:
Vijay married Sangeetha Sornalingam, a London-based Sri Lankan Tamil, in 1999. The couple has two children, a son named Jason Sanjay and a daughter named Divya Saasha.
Philanthropy:
Vijay is known for his philanthropic work and has been actively involved in several charitable activities. He has helped in the construction of several schools and has also provided financial aid to the families of deceased Tamil Nadu fishermen. He also donated Rs. 1.30 crore towards COVID-19 relief efforts in Tamil Nadu.
Awards and Recognitions:
Vijay has won several awards and recognitions for his contributions to Tamil cinema. He has won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor twice, for his performances in “Kadhalukku Mariyadhai” and “Thirupaachi”. He has also won several Filmfare Awards, Vijay Awards, and Behindwoods Awards, among others.
In 2007, Vijay was honoured with the Kalaimamani Award
