Thalapathy Vijay

THALAPATHY VIJAY Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar(born 22 June 1974, known professionally as Vijay, is an Indian actor and singer who works mainly in Tamil cinema.He is among the highest paid actors in India and has featured in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list on seven occasions.He has played the lead in 67 films. Referred to as Thalapathy (transl. Commander), Vijay has a significant following internationally.He has won several awards, including an Osaka Best Actor Award and a South Indian International Movie Award.In 2023, he became the highest paid actor in India.

Vijay was born as Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar on 22 June 1974 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. His father, S. A. Chandrasekhar, is a Tamil film director and his mother, Shoba Chandrasekhar, is a playback singer and carnatic vocalist. His father is of Christian Vellalar descent and his mother is a Hindu. Vijay was baptised at the age of 12. Vijay had a sister, Vidhya, who died when she was just two years old. Initially attending Fathima Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Kodambakkam, Vijay later joined the Balalok Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Virugambakkam and went on to pursue a degree in Visual Communications from Loyola College. While studying at the age of 18, he asked his father if "he would launch him".

At the age of 10, Vijay started his film career as a child actor in Vetri (1984), earning his first paycheck of ₹500 rupees paid for by actor-and-producer P. S. Veerappa.He then performed as a child actor in films such as Kudumbam (1984), Vasantha Raagam (1986), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987) and Ithu Engal Neethi (1988). He also performed in Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985) as a co-star with Rajinikanth, who was the lead actor. Vijay started to play lead roles at the age of 18 starting with Naalaiya Theerpu (1992).[24] Vijay then appeared in the films Sendhoorapandi, Rasigan, Deva and Coimbatore Mappillai. They were commercially successful, though not critically acclaimed.

In 1996, Vijay performed in the Vikraman-directed Poove Unakkaga, which he states gave him his "initial breaks" and caused his popularity to "reach great heights".In 1997, Vijay acted in Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen which received a positive response from critics, and Love Today, which was applauded by audiences. He also starred in the films Nerrukku Ner, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, Ninaithen Vandhai, Priyamudan and Thulladha Manamum Thullum which were released to positive reviews and were commercially successful.He then performed in the film Nilaave Vaa. This was followed by the films Endrendrum Kadhal, Nenjinile, and Minsara Kanna. In 2000, he performed in Kannukkul Nilavu, which was Vijay's 25th critically successful film, alongside two commercially successful romance films, Kushi and Priyamaanavale. His next successful films were Friends, Badri and Shahjahan. In 2002, he starred in the action film Thamizhan alongside Hindi actress Priyanka Chopra.Later, he appeared in the romantic film Youth and the action film Bagavathi. Vijay began 2003 with the comedy film Vaseegara and the supernatural film Pudhiya Geethai.