Thalapathy Vijay is once again making headlines after his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), registered a massive victory in the Tamil Nadu Election Result 2026. Vijay entered politics at the peak of his film career and had earlier announced his retirement from acting before launching the party. Following the election win, celebrations have erupted across the state, with discussions even beginning around the possibility of him becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Thalapathy Vijay started his career with Rs 500
Amid the political buzz, conversations around Vijay’s film career, blockbuster movies, and early struggles have also resurfaced online. Several old stories related to the actor are once again going viral. Today, Vijay is considered one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema and reportedly has a net worth of around Rs 600 crore. However, his journey began at a very young age, and his first-ever acting fee was just Rs 500.
Thalapathy Vijay is the son of Tamil filmmaker S. A. Chandrasekhar. He entered the film industry as a child artist and began his acting career with his father’s 1984 directorial venture, Vettri. According to a report by the Deccan Chronicle, S. A. Chandrasekhar revealed in a 2017 interview that Vijay was paid only Rs 500 for the film. Chandrasekhar manifested the political ambition of his son much earlier. Speaking after TVK’s victory, the filmmaker recalled the confidence with which Vijay had once told him: “I will be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.”
Vijay charges over Rs 200 crore per film
Over the past few years, Thalapathy Vijay has proved his box office dominance without starring in a single pan-India film. His movie Leo grossed over Rs 600 crore worldwide, despite receiving mixed reviews from audiences. It would not be wrong to say that Vijay enjoys an extremely strong fan following. The actor is currently at the peak of his career, but he is expected to take a break from cinema after his final film, Jana Nayagan. As a result, the film is being seen as an emotional farewell for his fans. Trade experts believe Jana Nayagan could generate massive box office numbers. Reports also suggest that the makers have paid Vijay a huge fee of around Rs 220 crore for the film.
