Rajnikanth explained at great length why he paid a visit to good friend MK Stalin's house after DMK's defeat in the 2026 TN assembly elections
'I won’t stoop so low’: Rajinikanth rejects mediating post-election alliance to block CM Vijay
Clarifying a controversial visit to long-time friend MK Stalin, Rajnikanth insists he harbours no jealousy toward Vijay; asks public to give Vijay time to govern
Rajinikanth, the man who could have been king in Tamil Nadu, went to great lengths on Sunday (May 17), to prove he remains far removed from politics and had no role in trying to prevent TVK chief C Joseph Vijay from becoming Chief Minister.
The veteran superstar, who once famously got on Tamil Nadu's political stage during the 1996 assembly elections to urge people not to vote for AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, and also opted out of joining politics, called a rare press conference to clear the air about the new young CM of Tamil Nadu.
After candidly admitting to the eager media that he was “extremely shocked” when he heard that actor Vijay had become TN chief minister, Rajinikanth made it clear that he was certainly "not jealous" of an actor 24 years his junior. "Maybe, if it was Kamal Haasan," he joked, making light of a situation none in Kollywood or in state politics saw coming.
Also read: Rajinikanth at 74: The superstar who faltered in politics
Squashing any talk of a rift with the new CM of Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth also said that he had wished Vijay wholeheartedly after his victory. “When people claim I have an issue with Vijay, they forget that I am not in politics. I don’t look at him through a political lens," he clarified.
The visit
Primarily, Rajinikanth also firmly distanced himself from rumours that he had tried to stitch an alliance between Dravidian major DMK and AIADMK and keep Vijay from taking office as CM, after a fractured verdict had left no single party with a majority.
This impression of Rajinikanth’s involvement stemmed from the actor's highly-publicised visit to DMK president and former chief minister MKStalin in the aftermath of the party’s electoral defeat. Even as Stalin was swallowing the bitter pill of his humiliating electoral defeat, Rajnikanth dropped by for a sympathy visit.
The photograph of Rajinikanth sitting solidly beside a Stalin, coming to grips with his defeat, circulated to the media led to intense political chatter that the actor was informally mediating to keep rank newcomer Vijay out.
Not stoop so low
On Sunday, a visibly agitated Rajinikanth told reporters that this kind of back-door politics was beneath him and this speculation had deeply hurt him. And, he stressed that he is "not someone who would stoop to such politics."
Rajinikanth explained now that he only visited Stalin because he has been his friend for three decades. “His defeat was upsetting to me, and I simply visited him as a friend, which led to a lot of criticism,” he said.
The actor stated that the reports falsely placing him at the center of backroom political deals crossed a line. He strongly denied any role in the rumoured coalition talks, asserting, “There were reports that two parties were holding talks to form a government, and that I was involved in those discussions. Let me tell you, Rajinikanth is not a person who would stoop so low.”
Politics is a huge responsibility
Rajinikanth also took the opportunity to praise Vijay, “At this age, in spite of having two major parties here and the BJP at the Centre, he achieved this victory on his own.”
“I am not against him or upset. I am only excited and happy for him,” he said, while urging the public to give the new Chief Minister time. “Politics is a huge responsibility. We should give him at least two years.”
Rajinikanth also called on Vijay’s supporters to be responsible when there is a huge expectation. The senior actor also admitted that since the Dravidian parties had dominated the state for over 60 years, a change was probably needed.
Generation gap
Even as Vijay is firmly ensconced in the CM's chair for now, Rajinikanth flatly denied any rumours of a rift with the new Chief Minister.
Emphasising his long-standing bond with the younger actor-politician, he added: “There is a massive generation gap between us, about 25 years. I have watched him grow up from his early days. Why on earth would I have a problem with him becoming Chief Minister?”
However, media reports pointed out that on May 12, when reporters asked Rainikanth about Vijay becoming CM, he chose not to comment.
Instead, he smiled, folded his hands in greeting, and walked past without making any statement.
Maybe, was it hard for the actor, who had for long captured Tamil Nadu’s political imagination without formally entering electoral politics, to digest that he could easily have been in Vijay's shoes?