Mohanlal on Vijay’s superstardom: There is an unknown magic
During the promotions of Drishyam 3, Mohanlal talked about Vijay’s charisma and the magic that helped him connect with the audience. His comments came as Vijay took over as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu following Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam’s comprehensive victory in the 2026 elections.
As actor-turned-politician Vijay begins a new chapter as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, actor Mohanlal shares his views on the Tamil star’s enduring superstardom and his deep connect with the audience. Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), swept the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, paving the way for him to take charge as the new Chief Minister of the state.
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In a recent interview with Galata Plus during promotion scene 3Mohanlal was asked about Vijay’s immense popularity and what makes the audience feel so connected to him. Mohanlal, who previously worked with Vijay districtSaid that stardom is often something that is beyond explanation.
Mohanlal said, “It’s basically the characters we play, not personal things.” He said that audiences usually connect with the image and emotions created by actors on screen rather than their real lives. Speaking about how cinema shapes public appreciation, Mohanlal said that previous generations were connected to stars only through films. Drawing comparisons with MG Ramachandran and Rajinikanth, he pointed out that cinema has a kind of impact that cannot always be explained logically.
He said, “Take MGR for example – people connected with him through his films and the characters he played. We never really paid attention to the personal life; that is something different.” Mohanlal further said that cinema has its own magic. Referring to Rajinikanth, he said that the scale of his stardom is huge and it is impossible to explain it completely. He added the same sentiment to Vijay, describing it as an “unknown magic” behind which audiences connect deeply with certain stars.
Many film personalities including Dhanush, Samantha, Mohanlal and Khushboo Sundar also congratulated Vijay after his victory in the elections.
This interview took place during the promotional run scene 3. As soon as the trailer of the film was unveiled, Mohanlal also teased the possibility of a fourth and fifth installment in the franchise. Directed by Jeetu Joseph, scene 3 Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Murali Gopi, Siddique and Asha Sharath also star in lead roles.
Presented by Dr. Jayantilal Gada of Penn Studios and Panorama Studios, the film is set for release on May 21.