Vijay Sethupathi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vijay Sethupathi
Sethupathi in 2024
Born	Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi Kalimuthu (1978-01-16) 16 January 1978 (age 47) Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu, India
Other names	Makkal Selvan
Alma mater	Dhanraj Baid Jain College
Occupation	Actor Film producer
Years active	2006–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Jessie ​ (m. 2003)​
Children	2

Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi Kalimuthu (born on January 16, 1978) is a famous Indian actor and film producer. He mostly works in Tamil films. People often call him Makkal Selvan, which means "People's Treasure". He has won many awards, including a National Film Award and two Filmfare Awards South.

Before becoming an actor, Sethupathi worked as an accountant in Dubai. He started his film journey with small roles. His first main role was in the movie Thenmerku Paruvakaatru (2010). He became very popular in 2012 with films like Sundarapandian, Pizza, and Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom.

Vijay Sethupathi has starred in many successful movies. Some of these include Vikram Vedha (2017), '96 (2018), Petta (2019), Master (2021), and Jawan (2023). He won a National Film Award for his role as a trans woman in Super Deluxe (2019).

Early Life and First Steps

Vijay Sethupathi was born in Rajapalayam, India. He moved to Chennai when he was in sixth grade. He went to MGR Higher Secondary School and Little Angels Mat. Hr. Sec. School. Sethupathi has said he was not a great student and wasn't very interested in sports or other activities. When he was 16, he tried out for a movie role but didn't get it because he was too short.

To earn money, Sethupathi worked many different jobs. He was a salesman, a cashier at a fast food place, and a phone booth operator. He earned a degree in Commerce from Dhanraj Baid Jain College. After college, he worked as an account assistant. He then moved to Dubai to work as an accountant because it paid more. While in Dubai, he met his future wife, Jessie, online. They got married in 2003.

Sethupathi wasn't happy with his job in Dubai, so he came back to India in 2003. He tried working in interior decoration and marketing. He was inspired to try acting after a director told him he had a "photogenic face."

Acting Career

Starting Out (2006–2011)

Vijay Sethupathi joined a theater group in Chennai as an accountant and actor. He started by playing small background roles in films. He also acted in TV shows and short films. He worked with director Karthik Subbaraj on many short films. One of these short films even won him a Best Actor award!

He got a small role in the gangster film Pudhupettai (2006). Later, director Suseenthiran gave him supporting roles in Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (2009) and Naan Mahaan Alla (2010). Sethupathi says Suseenthiran helped him a lot to achieve his acting dreams. His first main role was in the drama film Thenmerku Paruvakaatru (2011), where he played a shepherd. This film won three National Film Awards.

Becoming a Star (2012–2013)

The year 2012 was a big year for Sethupathi. All three of his movies were very successful and made him famous. He played a negative role in Sundarapandian. Then, he starred in Pizza and Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom. In Pizza, he played a delivery boy, and in Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, he played a young man who loses his memory before his wedding. Critics loved his acting in both films. People said he was a "delight to watch" and could handle any role. These movies were so popular that they were ranked as the top two films by BBC Tamil. Sethupathi won awards for both movies. By the end of 2012, many called him "the rising star of Kollywood."

In 2013, he starred in the crime comedy Soodhu Kavvum, playing a 40-year-old kidnapper. Critics praised him for taking on such a unique role. He even gained weight and grew a beard for the character. His next film, Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara, was also very popular. Fans cheered for him in every scene. People noted that he always chose interesting roles and scripts, making each character different and special.

Continued Success (2014–2015)

In 2014, Sethupathi's films Rummy and Pannaiyarum Padminiyum were released. Pannaiyarum Padminiyum was about an old man and his vintage car, with Sethupathi playing the driver. This film was well-received and even shown at the International Film Festival of Kerala. He also starred in the action drama Vanmam, where his performance was highly praised.

In 2015, he appeared in the political thriller Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai. Critics loved his sensitive performance. He also produced his first movie, Orange Mittai, which got good reviews. Later that year, he starred in the romantic comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, which became his highest-grossing movie at the time.

New Heights (2016–Present)

Sethupathi in 2016

In 2016, Vijay Sethupathi played a police officer in the action thriller Sethupathi. Critics praised his realistic portrayal of a cop, without the usual over-the-top dialogues. He then starred in several other films, including Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum, Iraivi, and Dharma Durai. It was during the filming of Dharma Durai that director Seenu Ramasamy gave him the nickname Makkal Selvan, which means "People's Treasure." This nickname has stuck with him ever since. In 2017, he starred in the action thriller Vikram Vedha alongside Madhavan, winning his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil.

In 2018, he appeared in films like Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren and Junga, which he also produced. He was part of Mani Ratnam's big film Chekka Chivantha Vaanam. He also starred in the romantic drama '96 with Trisha, which earned him another Filmfare Award. He played a negative role in Petta alongside superstar Rajinikanth. In 2019, he made his debut in Malayalam and Telugu films with Maarconi Mathaai and Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy.

His performance in Super Deluxe (2019) was highly acclaimed and won him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 2020, he was supposed to play cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan in a biopic, but he decided not to do the film due to some political controversy.

In 2021, Sethupathi appeared in the blockbuster film Master with Vijay. He also starred in the Telugu film Uppena. He had three more releases in September 2021: Laabam, Tughlaq Durbar, and Annabelle Sethupathi. His daughter also made her acting debut in his film Mughizh. He also hosted MasterChef India – Tamil on Sun TV Network.

In 2022, Vijay Sethupathi starred in Kadaisi Vivasayi and the romantic comedy Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal. He played a villain again in the highly successful film Vikram, starring Kamal Haasan. Vikram broke many box office records. He also reunited with his mentor Seenu Ramasamy for Maamanithan. In 2023, he appeared in the Bollywood film Jawan alongside Shah Rukh Khan, playing an arms dealer, a role that was widely praised.

Giving Back

Vijay Sethupathi cares about helping others. In 2014, he joined a rally at Marina Beach to raise awareness about Muscular Dystrophy. In 2021, he donated ₹25 lakhs (about 2.5 million Indian Rupees) to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the Corona relief fund.

Family Life

Vijay Sethupathi has three siblings. He married his girlfriend, Jessie, in 2003, whom he met online while he was in Dubai. They have two children, a son named Surya and a daughter named Shreeja. He named his son Surya in memory of a friend who passed away during his school days. His son, Surya, has also acted in films with him, playing the younger version of his father in Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015) and appearing in Sindhubaadh (2019).

Filmography

Awards and Recognition

Vijay Sethupathi has won many awards for his acting. Some of his most notable awards include:

• A National Film Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in Super Deluxe.
• Two Filmfare Awards for Best Actor for his performances in Vikram Vedha and '96.
• Two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, including Best Villain for Sundarapandian.
• Several other awards from ceremonies like the Edison Awards, SIIMA Awards, and Asiavision Awards.