In a moment that spoke volumes about the loyalties he holds beyond the electoral arena, actor-politician Thalapathy Vijay flew to Mumbai on Friday, March 20, to attend the baby shower ceremony of his close friend and director Atlee and his wife Priya Mohan arriving at the function in formal wear and carrying a gift for the expectant couple.
Vijay, who is currently at the epicentre of Tamil Nadu’s most turbulent election season, took time out from an extraordinarily demanding schedule to honour a friendship that predates his political journey. The bond between Vijay and Atlee, who directed him in the blockbusters Theri (2016), Mersal (2017), and Bigil (2019), is widely regarded in film circles as one of the most genuine and warm relationships in Indian cinema. This is Vijay’s second appearance at a baby shower for the couple he had also attended Priya’s first one in late 2022.
Vijay stayed at the Taj Lands End hotel in Bandra, where fans began gathering outside well past midnight, eager for a glimpse of their idol. A fan page dedicated to the actor posted videos on social media showing a large, enthusiastic crowd assembled outside the hotel gates, many of them waving TVK flags and chanting “Thalapathy will be the CM, our vote is for TVK.” Police were visible in the background as the crowd swelled into the early hours. The sight of politically charged Thalapathy fans mobilising in Mumbai far from his home state was a vivid illustration of the transnational reach of his support base.
The timing of the trip is notable. Vijay is navigating one of the busiest and most fraught stretches of his life simultaneously across multiple fronts. On the political side, Tamil Nadu’s assembly elections are less than five weeks away on April 23, with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) contesting all 234 seats independently. On the personal side, his wife Sangeetha Sornalingam’s divorce petition filed before a family court in Chengalpattu has kept him in the public spotlight in ways he has not addressed directly, with the next hearing scheduled for April 20. And on the cinematic front, his final film Jana Nayagan directed by H. Vinoth and described as a political action drama centred on a former police officer remains in limbo, as the Central Board of Film Certification has raised concerns over the portrayal of defence emblems and certain political themes. With Tamil Nadu elections underway, the Chief Electoral Officer has called the circumstances surrounding the film’s delay “unprecedented.” A release is now widely expected only after election results are declared, subject to CBFC clearance.
Atlee, for his part, has since moved his professional base primarily to Mumbai, having directed Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan (2023). The couple announced their pregnancy with joy earlier this year, and Vijay’s presence at the baby shower arriving in person with a gift when he could easily have sent his wishes was entirely in keeping with the kind of personal loyalty that his close circle has spoken about over the years.
-Samuthiran
