Prakash Raj Criticized Vijay in Speech; Called Him 'Chellam' on Jana Nayagan Set

During the shoot of H Vinoth’s Tamil political drama Jana Nayagan, veteran actor Prakash Raj publicly criticized his co‑star Vijay for the latter’s political stance. The criticism came after Vijay announced his entry into politics and began campaigning for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Prakash Raj, who has worked with Vijay on several films such as Ghilli (2004), Sivakasi (2005), Villu (2009) and Aathi (2006), and most recently in Varisu (2024), took to X (formerly Twitter) to question Vijay’s role in addressing Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and social issues, calling the political arena a “battle between unity and division.”

Despite the public spat, director H Vinoth reported that the tension did not spill onto the set. According to Vinoth, Prakash Raj had called Vijay “chellam” – a term of endearment meaning “dear” or “loved one” – the night before shooting. When the crew arrived, the two actors greeted each other as friends, with Vinoth noting that their professional relationship remained intact. Vinoth added that “politics is different, cinema is different,” and that both actors were open to constructive criticism.

Prakash Raj’s remarks came amid a broader political debate in Tamil Nadu. After Vijay’s campaign, Prakash Raj urged the audience to choose between a Dravidian model, a slavery model, or a “cinema model” for governance, implying that the film industry’s influence should not be mistaken for political leadership. The actor also highlighted that in a movie one can portray various roles – doctor, engineer or chief minister – but in real life one must confront the state’s pressing issues.

Jana Nayagan, featuring Vijay alongside Mamitha Baiju, Pooja Hegde and Bobby Deol, is an adaptation of Anil Ravipudi’s 2023 film Bhagavanth Kesari. The film was delayed by seven months due to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) clearance and is set to release on July 23. The incident underscores the delicate balance between on‑screen collaboration and off‑screen political differences among Tamil cinema’s leading figures.