Watch: Tamil superstar Vijay's bodyguard draws gun on elderly fan at Madurai airport

Credit: @ManobalaV/X

A tense moment at Madurai Airport on Monday sparked widespread debate after a video surfaced showing a bodyguard of Tamil superstar and TVK leader Thalapathy Vijay drawing a gun on an elderly fan who rushed towards the actor.

According to a News18 report, Vijay, returning from a film shoot in Kodaikanal, was greeted by a large crowd of admirers when the incident unfolded, quickly going viral and igniting concern across social media.

SHOCKING: Joseph Vijay's security points firearm on a person. pic.twitter.com/CA2A2aBXl6

Manobala Vijayabalan (@ManobalaV) May 5, 2025

The footage, widely shared by industry tracker Manobala Vijayabalan on X (formerly Twitter), shows Vijay stepping out of his car as the fan broke through the security cordon, apparently eager to greet the star. Interpreting the sudden approach as a potential threat, a security guard swiftly pulled out his firearm and momentarily pointed it at the fan before holstering it. The man was then pushed away by the team, while Vijay proceeded into the terminal without reacting to the commotion.

The incident has divided opinion online. While some criticised the security team’s response as excessive, others argued it was a necessary precaution given the unpredictable nature of public appearances.

The fan involved, identified as Inbaraj, later admitted he should not have breached the security circle but said he did not notice any weapon during the scuffle. “I agree I shouldn’t have jumped the circle… but while I was being pulled away, I didn’t see any gun at all,” India Today quoted the fan telling the media.

The India Today report added that sources within Vijay’s security detail offered a different perspective, claiming the guard was caught off-guard and was in the process of securing his weapon when the fan rushed in.

The episode comes days after Vijay publicly appealed to his fans to avoid risky behaviour during his appearances, expressing concern for their safety following previous incidents at his events.

Earlier the same day, Vijay had visited veteran comedian Goundamani’s residence in Chennai to pay his respects after the passing of Goundamani’s wife, Shanti, who died at 67 following health complications, News18 reported.

The actor, despite his packed schedule filming his final movie Jana Nayagan before a full-time move into politics, made time to support his longtime friend, with visuals of his condolence visit widely shared online.