Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), despite having just two years of political experience, swept the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with a landmark debut, winning 108 of the state’s 234 seats. One of the reasons for Vijay’s victory was his ability to connect with youth and women. A look at his film career shows that he played several roles fighting for women’s justice, which is said to have played a key role in his ability to connect with voters. Among these films is the 2019 film Bigil. Indraja Shankar, who played Pandiyamma in the film, spoke exclusively toZoomabout the victory of their ‘coach’ and what it means for the state of Tamil Nadu.
CallingThalapathy Vijayan inspiration, Indraja said his journey into politics indicates a change "From mass hero to a people’s leader, Vijay sir’s journey inspires many. His vision reflects change, equality, and youth empowerment. He has always stood for strong values, both on and off screen."
Indraja Shankar On Thalapathy Vijay's Political Win | Exclusive
Talking about her experience of working with him on Bigil and why it embodied leadership qualities she said "During Bigil, I noticed our coach’s respect for every individual on set. That same respect could shape him into a relatable Chief Minister. So happy for his victory."
Thalapathy Vijay played football coach in Bigil
In Bigil, Vijay played a football coach of a all-women's team. The film showed his character stand by women in his team, and help them overcome challenges. In the film, Vijay's character Michael coaches a team of girls played by actors such as Indhuja Ravichandran, Reba Monica John, Amritha Aiyer and Varsha Bollama. Directed by Atlee, the film became the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2019.
Indraja Shankar has appeared in films such as Viruman and Aghathiyaa. She is the daughter of popular actor Robo Shankar, who passed away in 2025.
Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan is said to be Vijay’s final film before fully venturing into politics. The movie was initially scheduled for release on January 9, 2026, but its release was indefinitely postponed following certification issues from the censor board. Following it, the entire film was leaked online and circulated illegally.
Following the leak, the producers sought legal action against social media accounts that shared clips and links from the film. Reports also suggested that the project had already become a loss-making venture even before its release, mainly because of the online piracy incident. The film also stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol and Mamitha Baiju.
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