Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and former actor Thalapathy Vijay turned 52 on Sunday, marking his first birthday since taking office after leading Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to victory in the 2026 Assembly
elections. The actor-turned-politician received wishes from across the political and film worlds, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kamal Haasan and Nayanthara. Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 10 after TVK’s landmark election win, completing a transition from one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars to the state’s top political office.
Among the most notable messages was one from Kamal Haasan, who wrote, “Heartfelt birthday wishes to the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, President of the Vijay Tamilaga Victory Committee, and beloved younger brother Vijay, who has captured the love of millions of hearts.”
Birthday greetings to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru C. Joseph Vijay Ji. I pray for his long and healthy life.@TVKVijayHQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2026
Kamal and Vijay have shared screen space before in the 1995 film Nammavar, where a young Vijay starred in a supporting role. Over the years, the two stars have maintained mutual love and respect despite belonging to different generations of Tamil cinema.
மாண்புமிகு தமிழ்நாடு முதலமைச்சர், தமிழக வெற்றிக் கழகத்தின் தலைவர், பல கோடி இதயங்களின் அன்பைப் பெற்றிருக்கும் அன்புத் தம்பி விஜய் @TVKVijayHQ அவர்களுக்கு மனமார்ந்த பிறந்தநாள் வாழ்த்துகள். @CMOTamilnadu pic.twitter.com/uHY1CCVe1Z
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) June 22, 2026
Actor Nayanthara also wished Vijay on social media, writing, “Happy Birthday dearest #Thalapathy @actorvijay 🎂 Have a great Year ahead sir.” The two have been among Tamil cinema’s most successful on-screen pairings, having worked together in films such as Villu, Sivakasi, Villu, Bigil and the upcoming Jana Nayagan.
Happy Birthday dearest #Thalapathy @actorvijay 🎂Have a great Year ahead sir😇
— Nayanthara✨ (@NayantharaU) June 21, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the birthday wishes as well, posting, “Birthday greetings to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru C. Joseph Vijay Ji. I pray for his long and healthy life.”
Vijay’s birthday celebrations this year carry added weight. Unlike previous years, when fans celebrated him primarily as a film star, he now marks the occasion as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Reports suggest he is spending the day focused on public initiatives, including constituency outreach and governance-related programmes.
Before entering politics full-time, Vijay spent more than three decades in cinema and built a massive fan base through blockbusters including Ghilli, Pokkiri, Thuppakki, Mersal, Master and Leo. In 2024, he formally launched TVK and gradually stepped away from films to focus on politics. His rise from box-office superstar to Chief Minister has been one of the most closely watched transitions in recent Tamil Nadu history.
