CM’s mother Shoba says, Vijay’s first question after the oath was for his father.
Vijay’s mother recalled the emotional moment after his swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the long journey from there. The actor-politician is celebrating his 52nd birthday on June 22.
Sometimes, the biggest moments are marked by the simplest questions. Moments after taking oath as chief minister of Tamil Nadu in May this year, Vijay turned to his father, filmmaker SA Chandrasekhar, and asked, “Have I fulfilled your dream?” The actor-politician is celebrating his 52nd birthday today.
According to his mother Shobha Chandrashekhar, Vijay’s father responded with a calm nod. Speaking in a recent interview, he recalled the emotional exchange and reflected on Vijay’s long journey from cinema to politics, revealing that his father’s political aspirations for him went back nearly two decades.
❮❯
Speaking to Thanthi TV, Shobha said that SA Chandrasekhar had seen politics in Vijay’s future for a long time, since the launch of Vijay Makkal Aykkam in 2009. He also spoke candidly about the criticism, doubts and family struggles that marked his journey from superstar to the top political office in the state.
Recalling Vijay’s decision to contest the elections, Shobha admitted that the family was initially worried.
He said, “We knew that many people came into politics and failed. Others had aspired to become Chief Minister but could not achieve it. But after seeing Vijay’s fan base all over Tamil Nadu, we were convinced that he has a real chance.”
He also talked about the criticism Vijay received after entering politics, saying that it reminded the family of the difficult days when he first entered the film industry.
He said, “Our family was saddened to see his criticism. It was the same when he entered cinema. But Vijay remained silent at every stage of his journey. He accepted everything positively and ultimately got success.”
Shobha also recounted the brief family rift in 2020, when SA Chandrasekhar attempted to register Vijay Makkal Ayakkam as a political party without informing his son and actor Vijay. He described himself as the general secretary of the party and Shobha as the treasurer. At that time Vijay had publicly distanced himself from the move, however the family later reconciled.
Six years later, Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) made a remarkable political debut by winning 108 of the 234 assembly seats in its very first election and forming the government.
On speculation whether Vijay would continue acting after entering politics, Shobha said the actor was always sure about his path.
He said, “Vijay was very clear that he would focus on only one field. From the beginning, it was either acting or politics.”
He said years of being in the public eye have taught the family to live with rumors and speculation, which no longer has the same impact on them as before.
Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 10 May. While her transition from cinema to politics has been under public scrutiny, Shobha’s memories offered a rare glimpse into a personal moment that, for the Chandrashekhar family, marked the fulfillment of a dream they had dreamed of for nearly 20 years.
Meanwhile, Vijay is preparing for the release of his 69th film. Jan NayganModerated by H Vinoth.