Before becoming one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars, Vijay went through moments that tested both his confidence and personal relationships. From harsh reviews after his debut in ‘Naalaiya Theerpu’ to a temporary fallout with close friend Sanjeev, these lesser-known incidents offer a glimpse into his early struggles and growth.
When ‘Naalaiya Theerpu’ left Vijay in tears
Looking back at the early days of ‘Naalaiya Theerpu’, Sanjeev once opened up about how deeply Vijay was affected by criticism. In a chat with Behindwoods, he recalled, “Vijay cried..he cried a lot…he literally cried all night. No debut hero wants to receive harsh remarks, that too from a leading magazine.”He added that Vijay was just 20 at the time and found it difficult to process the negativity. “At that age of 20, anyone would be vexed in such situations. If it was today’s Vijay, he would have handled the situation better.” Over time, however, Vijay turned things around. As Sanjeev noted, “Later, the same magazine waited for Vijay to give them his approval for a still on their magazine cover. This is achievement right.”Sanjeev also shared an incident that briefly strained their long-standing friendship. During a casual dinner with friends, a conversation spiraled into a disagreement. Without fully understanding the situation, Sanjeev sided with another friend, which upset Vijay. He recalled, “I, Vijay and our other friends gathered for a dinner. We were having a conversation which turned out into an argument.” The disagreement escalated to the point where Vijay walked out, and the two stopped speaking for nearly six months.Reflecting on that phase, Sanjeev admitted that Vijay’s silence was harder to deal with than anger. “Vijay is the kind of person who doesn’t use harsh words but his silence killed me.” Realising his mistake, Sanjeev chose an unusual way to make amends. “Later I realized that I was wrong and I apologized to him on live TV during an interview. After watching that interview, Vijay called me up and we patched up things. I know that Vijay can’t keep a grudge for long,” he shared, highlighting the strength of their bond.
What’s happening now: ‘Jana Nayagan’ faces a major setback
In a stark contrast to that journey of resilience, Vijay’s upcoming film ‘Jana Nayagan’ has recently run into serious trouble. The much-awaited project reportedly suffered a major blow after its full version was leaked online ahead of release. Initially, short clips surfaced, followed by the entire film appearing on piracy platforms, spreading rapidly across websites and social media.The leak has raised concerns not just for the film’s box office prospects but also for the wider industry, especially with ongoing discussions around theatrical and OTT deals.
Legal action and arrests follow the leak
Following the breach, KVN Productions took legal steps and issued strict warnings against piracy. Authorities launched an investigation that led to multiple arrests.Reports indicate that six individuals were initially detained, with further action leading to the arrest of a freelance editor accused of leaking the footage. In a related development, a cable operator from Coimbatore was also taken into custody for allegedly airing a pirated version of the film.