Superstar Rajinikanth has finally addressed the elephant in the room. Ever since actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay pulled off a historic political debut, leading his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party to a massive 108-seat victory and swearing in as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, rumors have been swirling. Did the veteran superstar feel sidelined? Was he plotting behind the scenes?
After maintaining a cryptic silence—most notably smiling and walking away from reporters at the Chennai airport a few days ago—Rajinikanth hosted a press conference at his Poes Garden residence on Sunday to set the record straight.
The truth behind the “jealousy” rumors
Addressing the widespread speculation that he was unhappy with Vijay’s monumental success against two powerful political alliances, Rajinikanth did not mince his words. The veteran actor confessed that he was “extremely shocked” by the sheer magnitude of Vijay’s victory but quickly clarified that the shock was accompanied by immense joy, not envy.
He pointed out the massive 25 to 28-year generation gap between them, making any professional or political rivalry illogical. In a lighthearted moment, he even joked that he might have felt a twinge of jealousy if his peer Kamal Haasan had become the Chief Minister, but certainly not Vijay. Praising the new CM, Rajinikanth noted that at just 52 years old, Vijay has achieved political milestones that rival even the legendary figures like MGR and NTR.
Clearing the air on the secret MK Stalin meeting
The rumor mill went into overdrive shortly after the election results when Rajinikanth was seen visiting defeated DMK chief and former Chief Minister MK Stalin. Critics quickly assumed the superstar was engaging in backdoor political negotiations to prevent Vijay from forming the government.
Rajinikanth firmly shut down these allegations, stating he is “not a cheap or low-standard person” to stoop to such levels. He explained that his relationship with Stalin spans nearly four decades and goes far beyond the realm of politics. The visit was purely a personal gesture of support for a long-time friend who had just faced a tough electoral defeat in the Kolathur constituency.
The airport silence explained
As for the viral video of him ignoring questions about Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony at the airport, Rajinikanth had a simple explanation. He mentioned that he had already extended his heartfelt congratulations to Vijay on the social media platform X immediately after the election results were announced. With his stance already public, he felt no need to entertain random questions from individuals recording on their phones.
The superstar reiterated that he has completely stepped away from active politics and has no intentions of returning. By addressing the media directly, Rajinikanth ensured that his silence would no longer be twisted into false narratives, putting an end to the unnecessary drama surrounding Tamil Nadu’s new political era.