Extramarital rumours, legal battles and more: Vijay’s controversies over the year

Actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay, popularly known as “Thalapathy” among fans, has now become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday after leading Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to a stunning electoral debut and later securing alliance support to form the government.

As the spotlight intensifies on the new Tamil Nadu CM, several controversies from his film and political journey have once again returned to public discussion.

Vijay rises to power after dramatic election battle

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single-largest party in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election with 108 seats.

Although the number was short of the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly, Vijay later secured support from Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML to form the government.

The actor-turned-politician has now officially taken oath as Chief Minister, marking a major political shift in Tamil Nadu.

However, throughout his long public career, Vijay has also faced multiple controversies involving his personal life, finances and political journey.

Divorce and extramarital affair rumours

One of the biggest controversies surrounding Vijay in recent months involved reports about his marriage with Sangeetha Sornalingam.

Social media discussions intensified after reports claimed the couple was facing marital issues after more than two decades of marriage.

Some reports also linked the rumours to alleged claims of an affair with a prominent actress.

The speculation gained traction because Vijay and Trisha have shared successful on-screen pairings in films such as Ghilli, Thirupaachi and Kuruvi.

Neither Vijay nor Trisha publicly confirmed the rumours, and no official statement verifying the allegations has been issued.

Legal dispute involving his father

Vijay also made headlines over his reported fallout with his father, filmmaker S. A. Chandrasekhar.

The dispute reportedly emerged after Chandrasekhar attempted to launch a political organisation linked to Vijay’s name and fan base.

Vijay later approached the court seeking legal restraint against the use of his name for political activities or organisations without his approval.

The issue generated major attention because Vijay and his father were previously seen as closely connected in both cinema and public life.

Income Tax raids and financial scrutiny

The actor-politician also faced scrutiny from Income Tax authorities during multiple investigations linked to his film projects.

Between 2015 and 2020, Income Tax officials reportedly conducted searches at Vijay’s residence and premises linked to film production activities.

The probes were connected to alleged financial irregularities and tax-related issues involving films including Puli and Bigil.

The raids triggered widespread political debate at the time, with supporters claiming the action was politically motivated.

Jana Nayagan controversy

Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan also became part of controversy ahead of its release.

Reports suggested the project faced issues related to certification and content leaks, leading to investigations into how portions of the film surfaced online.

The controversy gained additional attention because the film arrived during Vijay’s major political transition period.

Political rise amid intense public attention

Even before formally launching TVK in 2024, Vijay remained one of Tamil Nadu’s most politically discussed film stars.

His speeches, public appearances and films often triggered debates about whether he would eventually enter politics.

With Vijay now becoming Chief Minister, several of his past controversies have once again returned to public discussion as attention around his political leadership continues to grow.