Vijay's mother recalls how he became 'quieter' after his sister's death

Pic courtesy: X/ Mammootty

Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar aka Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars and the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, delivered numerous memorable performances before completely turning his focus to politics. One role he has perfected over the years on screen is that of the protective brother.

From Thirupaachi to Velayudham, film after film, he has embodied the ideal sibling: fiercely devoted, unwavering in his loyalty, and willing to sacrifice everything for his family. Vijay has truly embraced the role of the guardian brother, and it turns out that this wasn’t a mere coincidence. The depth in those characters came from something far more personal. Vijay’s mother, Shoba Chandrasekhar, recently revealed a personal tragedy - the loss of her child, a girl, at a tender age.

Vijay became ‘quieter’ after his younger sister’s death

Like most children his age, Vijay grew up as a vibrant and outgoing child, according to his mother. Talking to Thanthi TV, she recalled how Vijay was talkative, mischievous, and full of boundless energy. However, that innocence was shattered in 1984, when his younger sister Vidhya died at just two years of age.

“Until then, Vijay had been a jolly, lively child, but my daughter’s death changed him and the rest of the family as well.

Vijay, once talkative and a little mischievous, grew noticeably quieter afterwards, and his school teachers had even noticed him getting emotional whenever the subject of sisters came up in class,” she recalled. This personal tragedy drastically affected Vijay, who was a child himself. The tragedy struck particularly hard because his father was away filming when the tragedy occurred, leaving the family to bear their grief without him.

For young Vijay, the loss of a sibling at such a formative age reshaped not only his personality but his entire approach to life.Vijay grew up in a middle-class family and led a largely ordinary life during his childhood. “It was my own income from singing that kept the household running, before my husband eventually gave up a government job to pursue filmmaking full-time. In our modest setting, Vijay grew up in a middle-class family,” his mother said.Like any other parents from a middle-class household, they also wanted Vijay to become a medical professional. “My husband and I had hoped he would become a doctor, a wish that grew stronger after we lost our daughter,” his mother revealed.

But Vijay clearly had another vision for himself. “Vijay had his own plans at the time, wanting to become a pilot until he was about 18, before acting entered the picture.” Eventually, he did fulfil both his parents’ dreams and his own - just in a different way. He played a doctor (Mersal) and a pilot (Beast), a doting brother, and more.

After spending three decades in cinema and becoming one of the biggest stars in the country, he formed his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, in February 2024. He led the party to victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections this year and became the state’s ninth Chief Minister.