What's a success story without a hero struggling to find his place in society? 51-year-old Vijay had a thriving career in cinema and was even fondly called ‘Thalapathy’ (leader/commander) for years before he announced his political entry. However, he faced numerous controversies on his way to becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
The Karur stampede that left 41 dead was one of the most devastating incidents. A stampede during one of his rallies in Karur left 41 dead and around 100 people injured. Vijay faced criticism for not issuing a statement immediately and for returning to Chennai.
His personal life also made headlines. Vijay's wife of nearly three decades, Sangeeta Sornalingam, filed for divorce, accusing him of having an extramarital relationship with an actress. The petition claimed that in 2021, Sangeetha found that Vijay “was involved in an adulterous relationship with an actress.”
Speculation surrounding his relationship with Trisha Krishnan also made headlines. They attended the wedding reception of producer Kalpathi S Suresh and Meenakshi Suresh's son together and wore matching outfits.
Vijay's film, Jana Nayagan, was also embroiled in controversy. The film was leaked online in HD days before the TN elections, and nine arrests were made following the Cyber Crime Wing's investigation.
Finally, Vijay faced a political stand-off to secure a majority. Elections were held in TN on April 23, and the results were announced on May 4. Despite forming a post-election alliance with Congress, Vijay met the TN governor at least four times before he could show a majority with the help of other parties.
