Vijay Sethupathi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vijay Sethupathi
Vijay 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, including Surya

Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi Kalimuthu (born on January 16, 1978) is a famous Indian actor and film producer. He mostly works in Tamil films. Vijay Sethupathi has won many awards, including a National Film Award and two Filmfare Awards South.

Before becoming an actor, he 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). In 2012, he became very popular with films like Sundarapandian, Pizza, and Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom.

Vijay Sethupathi became a very successful actor with many hit movies. Some of these include Soodhu Kavvum (2013), Vikram Vedha (2017), '96 (2018), Master (2021), and Vikram (2022). He also appeared in the Hindi film Jawan (2023) and his 50th film, Maharaja (2024). He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in Super Deluxe (2019).

Early Life and First Steps

Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi Kalimuthu was born on January 16, 1978. He grew up in Rajapalayam until he moved to Chennai when he was in 6th grade. He lived in Ennore in North Chennai. He went to MGR Higher Secondary School and Little Angels Mat. Hr. Sec. School. Vijay Sethupathi has said he was an "average student" and wasn't very interested in sports or other activities. When he was 16, he tried out for a role in a movie called Nammavar (1994) but was not chosen because he was too short.

To earn money, Sethupathi did many different jobs. He worked as 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 moved to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to work as an accountant. This job paid him much more money. In Dubai, he met his future wife, Jessie, online. They started dating and got married in 2003.

He was not happy with his job in Dubai, so he came back to India in 2003. After trying out an interior decoration business, he joined a marketing company. He saw a poster for a theater group called Koothu-P-Pattarai. A director named Balu Mahendra once told him he had a "very photogenic face." This encouraged him to think about acting.

Career Journey

Starting Out (2006–2011)

Vijay Sethupathi joined the Koothu-P-Pattarai theater group in Chennai. He worked there as an accountant and an actor. He started by playing small roles, often as the main character's friend. He also acted in TV shows, like Penn (2006), and many short films for a TV show called Nalaya Iyakunar. He worked with director Karthik Subbaraj on several short films. He even won a Best Actor award for one of his short films at the Norway Tamil Film Festival.

In 2006, Sethupathi was chosen to play a friend of the main character in the film Pudhupettai. After a small role in Lee (2007), director Suseenthiran gave him supporting roles in Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (2009) and Naan Mahaan Alla (2010). Sethupathi has said that Suseenthiran helped him a lot to achieve his acting dreams.

In 2010, he got his first main role in the drama film Thenmerku Paruvakaatru, directed by Seenu Ramasamy. He played a shepherd in the movie. This film won three National Film Awards, including Best Tamil Feature Film. He also played a character from a lower class in Varnam (2011).

Rise to Fame (2012–2013)

The year 2012 was a big turning point for Vijay Sethupathi. All three of his movies released that year were very successful. This made him much more popular. He first appeared in a negative role in Sundarapandian. Then, he played lead roles in Pizza and Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom.

In Pizza, he played Michael, a delivery boy. In Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, he played Prem, a young man who loses his memory just before his wedding. Critics praised his acting in both films. For Pizza, he was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. His performances in these films earned him awards at the Edison Awards and the Big FM Tamil Entertainment Awards. By the end of 2012, many people called him "the rising star of Kollywood."

In 2013, he starred in the crime comedy Soodhu Kavvum. He played a 40-year-old kidnapper. The film was a big hit. Critics praised him for taking on a role where he looked older. His next film was Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara. This movie also received good reviews, and Vijay Sethupathi's acting was highly praised. People loved how he could play different kinds of characters.

Continued Success (2014–2015)

In 2014, Vijay Sethupathi's films Rummy and Pannaiyarum Padminiyum were released. In Pannaiyarum Padminiyum, he played the driver of an old man's vintage car. This film was well-received and was even shown at the International Film Festival of Kerala. He also appeared in the action drama Vanmam. Critics praised his strong performance in this film.

In 2015, he starred in the political thriller Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai. His acting in this film was highly praised. Later in 2015, his first movie as a producer, Orange Mittai, was released. It received good reviews. His next film, the romantic comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, became his highest-grossing movie at that time.

Recent Works (2016–Present)

Sethupathi in 2016

In 2016, Vijay Sethupathi starred in the police action thriller Sethupathi. He played a police officer and received a lot of praise for his natural performance. He then appeared in the romantic comedy Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum. Other films that year included Iraivi, Dharma Durai, Aandavan Kattalai, and Rekka. It was during the filming of Dharma Durai that director Seenu Ramasamy gave him the nickname "Makkal Selvan," which means "people's man." This name has stuck with him ever since.

In 2017, he starred in the action thriller Vikram Vedha alongside Madhavan. This role earned him 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 then starred in the romantic drama '96 with Trisha. '96 won him his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. He also 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 praised and won him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 2020, he starred in Ka Pae Ranasingam. He was supposed to play cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan in a biopic called 800, but he later decided not to do the film due to some controversy.

In 2021, Sethupathi appeared in Master with Vijay. He also starred in the Telugu film Uppena. In September 2021, he had three film releases: Laabam, Tughlaq Durbar, and Annabelle Sethupathi. His daughter made her acting debut in the film Mughizh, which he also starred in. He also appeared in Vetrimaaran's Tamil film Viduthalai Part 1. From August 2021, he hosted MasterChef India – Tamil on Sun TV Network.

In 2022, Vijay Sethupathi appeared in the drama film Kadaisi Vivasayi. He then starred in the romantic comedy Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal with Nayanthara and Samantha. He played a villain again in Vikram, starring Kamal Haasan. Vikram was a huge box office success. He also worked with his mentor Seenu Ramasamy again on the film Maamanithan. He acted in the Malayalam movie 19(1)(a), which was released on Disney+ Hotstar. His action comedy DSP was released in December 2022.

In 2023, Vijay Sethupathi appeared in Jawan with Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara. He played an arms dealer, and his performance was highly praised. He also worked on a silent film called Gandhi Talks. In 2024, he starred in the Hindi and Tamil film Merry Christmas with Katrina Kaif. His 50th film, Maharaja (2024), was a big success both in India and internationally. He described it as a very important film for him. He also appeared in Viduthalai Part 2 (2024), which was screened at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The film "Thalaivan Thalaivii" was released on July 25, 2025, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen.

Giving Back to the Community

Vijay Sethupathi is also involved in charity work. In 2014, he took part in a rally at Marina Beach to raise awareness about Muscular Dystrophy. On June 15, 2021, he met the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, and donated ₹25 lakhs (about 2.5 million Indian Rupees) to the Corona relief fund.

Personal Life

Vijay Sethupathi has three siblings: an elder brother, a younger brother, and a younger sister. He returned from Dubai in 2003 to marry his girlfriend, Jessie, whom he had met online. They have two children together.

Filmography

Awards and Recognitions