Vijay's name used for a reason, says Chandrasekhar on party naming row

A rift between Tamil actor Vijay and his film director-father SA Chandrasekhar has surfaced after the latter registered a political party in his name, Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam. Vijay, who began his career as a child actor in his father’s directorial Vetri, has denied any link with the party and asked his fans not to join it just because his father started it.

Chandrasekhar, however, has come up with a justification as to why he registered the party in his son’s name without his consent. In an interview to News 18 Tamil, the filmmaker said that his intention was to encourage those who have been doing good work in Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, the actor’s fan club, for the past 25 years.

Interestingly, according to reports, even Vijay’s mother Shobha has claimed her husband made her sign a document by saying he was starting an association. However, she claims she’s no more associated with the outfit that Chandrasekhar registered with the Election Commission of India last Thursday.

Meanwhile, Chandrasekhar told the news channel that a decade ago he had said he would start a political party and that his son could stay away from it if he wants. That’s what happened on that day, he said referring to Vijay’s letter in which he denied links to the party. He has used some unnecessary words, the filmmaker further added.

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Further justification followed as he said it was he who had started Vijay Rasiga Mandaram in 1993 and that he had done so without his consent. Chandrasekhar said he had done so out of his own wish and that he wanted his son to reach the greatest heights and become a great actor. He said he’s been doing all these for his son but without his consent.

The Kollywood director has called the transformation of the fan club into a political party his “duty” and that it is Vijay who should be asked whether he has political aspirations, and not him. In a more bizarre revelation, he also claimed that the two had never discussed politics in the past.

Chandrasekhar said the transformation only gives the outfit a recognition and that it isn’t necessary it will contest elections. He said his son can continue to stay out of politics and concentrate on his acting career. Talking about the party’s ideology, he said it was started so its members can do the good work they have been doing on par with political parties.

On the alleged rift between them, the father said has turned down speculations that they’re not on speaking terms. He said they speak for 30-45 minutes everyday and that he teaches him yoga as well.

Claiming that some people are trying to create distance between them, Chandrasekhar said that he will tell Vijay about such people and what they’re doing. The director said that such people tell Vijay wrong things about him and does not want him to be close to his son. He said such people will “lose and lose badly”.