Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar (born 22 June 1974), known professionally as Vijay, is an Indian actor and singer who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He is among the highest paid actors in India. He has played the lead in 66 films and the International Business Times framed him as a "consistent performer". Referred to as "Thalapathy", Vijay has a significant following internationally. He has won several awards, including a South Indian International Movie Award.

Early life and family

Vijay was born as Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar in a Tamil speaking family 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 descent and his mother is Hindu.Vijay was baptised at the age of 12. Vijay had a sister, Vidhya, who died when she was 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".

Film career

1984–2003: Child actor and transition into lead roles

Vijay in 1987

At the age of 10, Vijay started his film career as a child actor in Vetri (1984), making 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 to Rajinikanth, who was the lead actor.

Vijay started to play lead roles at the age of 18 starting with Naalaiya Theerpu (1992).Vijay then appeared in the films Sendhoorapandi, Rasigan, Deva and Coimbatore Mappillai. They were commercially successful, though not critically acclaimed.

Vijay in 1998

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 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 released to positive reviews and were commercially successful.He then performed in 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 featured in the romantic film Youth and the action film Bagavathi.

Vijay began 2003 with the comedy film Vaseegara and the supernatural film Pudhiya Geethai.

2003–2011: Star status in Tamil cinema

Following the action-romance flick Thirumalai in 2003, Ghilli, a film directed by S. Dharani and produced by A. M. Rathnam, was released. It co-starred Trisha and Prakash Raj with Vijay as the lead.Ghilli was the first Tamil film of all time to gross over ₹500 million, or ₹50 crore, in the domestic box office.The film grossed nearly $500,000 in the Malaysian market.Ghilli also broke the record for the most people seeing a movie in the first week of its release, previously held by M. G. Ramachandran's Adimai Penn (1969). Ghilli received favourable reviews.The Hindu stated that "Vijay, the hero whom the masses today identify with, and Prakash Raj, the inimitable villain in tow, this flick, "Ghilli"...on a winning track".

Vijay at a function in 2007

Ghilli was followed by commercially successful films Madhurey and Thirupaachi in 2005. Later, Vijay starred in the commercially and critically successful films Sachein, Sivakasi and Pokkiri. Pokkiri was one of the highest-grossing films in his career at that time.

In late 2007, Vijay starred in the romantic thriller film Azhagiya Tamil Magan, where he played the role of the protagonist and antagonist at the same time. Azhagiya Tamil Magan collected $1.043 million overseas, a top grosser at overseas box offices in 2007. Screen Daily, a British magazine, reported that Azhagiya Tamil Magan had entered the top ten Asian films box office hit chart in Malaysia in 2007. Barring the commercially successful Vettaikaaran (2009),all of his subsequent releases from Azhagiya Tamil Magan, Kuruvi and Villu were average successes; all three films were more successful overseas.In 2009, Vijay became one of the highest paid actors in South India. In 2010, he acted in the action comedy film Sura, which was a box office failure.

Vijay in 2011

In early 2011, Vijay joined up with director Siddique for the romantic comedy Kaavalan. It received positive responses from both viewers and critics, with a box office collection of ₹102 crore worldwide. Kaavalan was screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival in China. Kaavalan was a commercial success in China.During Diwali the same year, his next film, the action film Velayudham, directed by M. Raja and produced by Venu Ravichandran, was released. Velayudham became one of the top-grossing films of 2011.Velayudham was a critical success among Japanese audiences.

2012–present: Increased critical and commercial success globally
Vijay's next release in 2012 was Nanban. Nanban was screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival in Australia. Vijay's performance in the film received positive critical acclaim.Nanban went on to have a 100-day theatrical run.[60] The Indian Express reported the film Nanban grossed ₹150 crore at the box office.The action thriller Thuppakki, directed by A. R. Murugadoss and produced by S. Dhanu, was released on Diwali 2012 to positive reviews.The film became the third Tamil film to enter the ₹1 billion club domestically.Thuppakki became the highest-grossing film of Vijay's career at the time, and the first of his films to gross over ₹1,800,000,000.Thuppakki was screened at the Russian film festival.

 —Vijay speaking in 2017 on his film career

In 2018 the political film Sarkar was released with Vijay in the lead role, directed by AR Murugadoss. Keerthi Suresh played the female supporting role, it being her second collaboration with Vijay after Bairavaa. Following its release on Diwali 2018, Sarkar broke several collection records and entered the 100 Crore Club within two days.The Hollywood Reporter mentioned Vijay as a man with "swag" in the film. Sarkar was his second film to gross over ₹2.5 billion.Sarkar was released in Spain and screened in France and Japan.

Bigil was released in 2019, directed by Atlee, is a football action film. Vijay underwent "special training" for his role in the film.Bigil was Vijay's last film of the decade. Bigil received mixed reviews from critics, but Vijay was praised for the portrayal of his character within the film.It was a commercial success, collecting more than ₹300 crore, became both the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2019—within three months of its release—and the highest-grossing film of Vijay's career. Bigil was also the first Tamil film released in Egypt and Jordan. In 2020, Bigil was the first Tamil film re-released in Germany.

Vijay with an Award in the United Kingdom in 2018

During the same year, Lokesh Kanagaraj was selected as the director of Vijay's film Master produced by Xavier Britto. Master was originally scheduled to be released on 9 April 2020, however, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released on 13 January 2021 in theatres. Master was the highest-grossing film in United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a box office collection of $1.4 million within two days, surpassing the Hollywood releases Wonder Woman 1984 and Tenet within the same country.The film was screened at the International film festival of Alberta, Canada. Upon release, it received both positive and mixed reviews from viewers and critics. Eastern Eye, a British magazine, called Master "an entertaining massy action film" but stated that "the runtime is a bit long". The film collected ₹300 crore worldwide and it was declared as a box office hit.The combined gross earnings of Mersal, Sarkar, Bigil and Master was determined to be over ₹1000 crore according to trade analysts. The dark comedy action film Beast released theatrically on 13 April 2022 worldwide.Beast received mixed reviews from critics.Roger Ebert, an American film critic website, reviewed the film Beast with 3/5 stars and called "Vijay as a multifaced tiger with a multifaceted avatar". Beast was the highest grossing Tamil film in US premiere shows. Beast made box office collection records in the international markets of New Zealand, Australia and Singapore. The film was commercially successful, collecting ₹250 crore worldwide,and was one of the most viewed films on Netflix globally in 2022.It was the first Tamil film released theatrically in Uzbekistan.

The action drama film Varisu was produced by Telugu film producer Dil Raju and directed by Vamshi Paidipally. Thaman S composed music and background score for the film.Varisu released theatrically worldwide on 11 January 2023 to polarizing reviews.Varisu collected ₹300 crore at the box office.[

Leo film was directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj his second collaboration with Vijay scheduled to release on 19 October 2023 in theatres worldwide. Music was composed by Anirudh. Leo will release in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada.

His 68th film will be a science-fiction directed by Pradeep Ranganathan.

Wealth

As of 2021, Vijay's net worth is ₹4200 million or ₹420 crore.Vijay earned ₹100 crore salary for Beast, and also earned an estimated ₹120 crore—₹150 crore for his 66th film Varisu, marking him among the highest paid Indian actors.

Artistry and honours

Vijay receiving his image postage stamp album from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006

Vijay's wax figures were unveiled in several parts of India, especially in Kanyakumari Museum.The Arabic Kuthu-Halamithi Habibo music dance video from the film Beast garnered 20 million views in 1 day. Ranjithamae song from his film Varisu was well received in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

News 18 describes Vijay as a "versatile actor" and a "fantastic playback singer, dancer and philanthropist".Odisha TV reported that "While fans are crazy for [Vijay's] movies, he has a set of dedicated audience who enjoy his dance moves". Zee media reported that Vijay amazed audiences with his acting and screen presence.

The Times of India labelled Vijay's dance moves in his film songs as "energetic and effortless".

Vijay received an honorary doctorate from the Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute in 2007 in honour of his achievements in the film industry.Vijay was awarded the 'Best International Actor of 2018' in the United Kingdom.

Some lesser known facts about Vijay

• Does Vijay smoke?: No
• Does Vijay drink alcohol?: No
• Vijay incepted his film career in 1984 as a child artist in “Vetri” which was made by his father.
• To became an actor he dropped out his Bachelors Degree of Visual Communications at Loyola College, Chennai.
• He is a good friend of South superstars Vikram and Surya.
• Instead of celebrating his birthday in hotels, he prefers social work and provides free books to economically weak students.
• For his contribution in the Tamil film industry, he was awarded with the “Doctor Honoris Causa” by  Dr. MGR University.
• He has been the brand ambassador of major giants like Coca-Cola, Chennai Super Kings, Sunfeast, Jos Alukkas and Tata Docomo.
• He was initially offered the roles of Dharani’s Dhool and Shankar’s Mudhalvan, but due to busy schedule he wasn’t able to take it..