Telugu actor Nani has shared his thoughts on why the people of Tamil Nadu elected C Joseph Vijay as their Chief Minister. Speaking at a promotional event in Chennai for his upcoming film The Paradise on September 17, 2026, Nani explained that Vijay’s win was not simply about his stardom or his box office success. He believes the voters placed their trust in the actor-turned-politician after years of feeling a personal connection with him.
Nani Explains Why Vijay Won the Tamil Nadu Election
During the press meet, Nani was asked how he felt watching a major film star like Vijay become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The actor responded with praise for the people of the state and their decision. He pointed out that Vijay’s victory went far beyond his on-screen image.
“It’s amazing. That’s the kind of love we as actors gather. Like Vijay sir being the bigger star here. The kind of trust the Tamil people have shown…it shows that it’s not about success or it’s not about…just because he’s a star who collects the highest at the box office. I don’t think they’d vote for someone.”
Nani went on to explain what he meant by that statement. He said the people of Tamil Nadu have known Vijay for many years and feel like he is part of their own family.
“I think it is years of making them feel like they know him and making everyone feel like family. There’s a trust built over many years for many reasons. It’s not just for someone’s stardom or someone’s box office collections. That clearly shows the kind of trust people of Tamil Nadu have placed in Vijay sir.”
Vijay Is Rocking the Assembly, Says Nani
Nani also spoke about Vijay’s performance as Chief Minister so far. He said he has been watching clips of Vijay in the Tamil Nadu Assembly online and likes what he sees.
“From whatever I’ve seen online, from the clips in the Assembly and all that, I think he’s rocking the show.”
The actor added that he hopes Vijay’s time in office lives up to the expectations of the people who voted for him. He said he wishes the next few years of Vijay’s rule will be amazing and that the voters of Tamil Nadu will be proved right in their choice.
How Vijay Became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Vijay’s journey from cinema to politics has been closely followed across India. He launched his political party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) , in February 2024. The party’s name means Tamil Nadu Victory Party, and it was the first political outfit in the state to break away from the long-standing Dravidian parties.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly election took place in April 2026, with votes counted on May 4, 2026. Vijay’s TVK made a historic debut by winning 108 seats in the 234-member assembly. This made the TVK the single-largest party in the state, though it fell short of the majority mark by 10 seats. The incumbent DMK won 59 seats, while the AIADMK secured 46 seats.
Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026, at a grand ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. This marked the end of nearly seven decades of power alternating between the DMK and the AIADMK.
Nani Previously Congratulated Vijay After the Election
Nani was among the first celebrities to congratulate Vijay when the election results came in. On May 4, 2026, he shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) that caught the attention of many people.
“Congratulations @actorvijay sir. First doubted and then crowned. Happened at our home and now it’s happening in our neighbouring home. Underdog winning is always absolute cinema (or should I say absolute politics?) 🙂 Hope great things follow for the people of Tamil Nadu who have made their decision clear.”
In that post, Nani drew a parallel between Vijay’s political rise and the journey of Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The phrase “happened at our home” referred to Pawan Kalyan’s success in Andhra Pradesh, while “our neighbouring home” pointed to Tamil Nadu and Vijay’s victory.
Jana Nayagan Becomes the Highest-Grossing Tamil Film of 2026
Vijay’s final film before he became Chief Minister was Jana Nayagan, which was released in July 2026. The film became the highest-grossing Tamil movie of the year, with a worldwide gross of ₹324.54 crore.
Directed by H. Vinoth, Jana Nayagan was a political action drama. It was Vijay’s last film as he had announced his decision to focus fully on his political career. The movie had a strong theatrical run and ended as one of Kollywood’s highest-grossing films of all time.
About Nani and The Paradise
Nani is currently busy promoting The Paradise, his upcoming action drama directed by Srikanth Odela. The film marks the second collaboration between Nani and Odela after their 2023 hit Dasara. The Paradise also stars Kayadu Lohar, Mohan Babu, and Raghav Juyal in key roles.
The film is set to release in theatres on September 24, 2026. It was initially scheduled for an August 2026 release but was postponed to September. Nani has confirmed that the film will not have a trailer and that he prefers to call it a Telugu film rather than a pan-India film. The movie will be dubbed in other South Indian languages and Hindi.
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During the same Chennai press meet, Nani also shared his views on the “pan-India” label. He questioned why successful South Indian films are called pan-India films while successful Hindi films are simply called Hindi films. He said he does not want to call his own films pan-India releases for this reason.
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on your favourite stars and their journeys on and off the screen.
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