Actor Vijay unveils party flag: Tamil stars who made glamorous entry into south politics

Tamil actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu politics has a history of actors, who enjoy a popular and massive fanbase, making the leap from movies. Notable figures like MGR and Jayalalithaa had set the precedent for connecting stardom and political influence, leading to the rise of other film stars in politics.

Actor Vijay, who is at the peak of his acting career, unveiled the flag and symbol of his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in Chennai on August 22. Here's a list of other Tamil superstars who joined either a political party or floated their own:

MGR (Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran)

A beloved actor and filmmaker, MGR’s political journey began with the Congress. After a brief stint with DMK, he founded the AIADMK in 1972 and served as Tamil Nadu's chief minister for 10 years.

J Jayalalithaa

It was MGR who decided to bring her into politics from cinema. Jayalalithaa made her political debut and joined the ruling AIADMK party in 1982.

Vijayakanth

Known as ‘Karuppu MGR’ for his fan following, Vijayakanth founded the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in 2006. He aimed to create an alternative to Tamil Nadu’s dominant political parties.

Kamal Haasan

A legendary actor, Kamal Haasan entered politics in 2018 with the formation of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM).

Rajinikanth

The veteran actor, who was on the verge of launching his political party, announced in December 2020 that he would not join politics after all. He cited health concerns ahead of the Tamil Nadu election, held in March-April in the middle of the Covid crisis.

Udayanidhi Stalin

Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and grandson of DMK founder Karunanidhi, entered politics five years ago. Udhayanidhi's political career followed his successful stint in the Tamil film industry as a producer and actor.