Personality this week : Ilaya Dalapathi - Vijay

As if to do justice to the title of the young Turk, Vijay has become the commanding force of the Tamil industry with popularity and business support next only to the superstar Rajinikanth. But, the success and the adulation did not happen overnight. His journey has met with several obstacles and failures. His determination and self-confidence have brought him the laurels.Vijay comes from a family which has strong experience in the film industry. Father, S. A. Chandrasekaran is a popular director and mother Shoba is an accomplished playback singer. Vijay has a soft corner for anyone who answers to the name Vidya for it is the name of his sister who died when she was just two. He made his debut as a child artiste in the film, Vetri. His first film as hero was Nalaiya theerpu. He has acted in 48 films so far. Films like Rasigan, Senthurappandi and Deva made him the badshah of B and C centres while Kadhalukku mariyadhai, Poove unakkaga, Once more, Gilli, etc. made his appeal sore among the urban audience. He is the youngest actor to have won the MGR award from the Tamil Nadu Government and Kalaimamani title. His inspiration are MGR’s Nadodi mannan, Rajini’s Annamalai and Vijayakanth’s Sattam oru iruttarai and Vanathaippola. Vijay is talented in all aspects of acting like dance, action and emoting. He has worked with perseverance to hone his skills and prove his detractors wrong. At 31, he is the youngest star to have completed 48 films and already there is competition about who would produce his 50th film. Vijay has excellent rapport with his peers Ajith, Prasanth and Surya. A shy and intensely private person, Vijay has steered clear of any controversy. He is happily married to London-born Sangeetha. They have a son, Jason Sanjay and a just-born daughter. A total family man, he prefers spending his free time with his wife and kids and can only be rarely seen in filmi gatherings. He is an accomplished sportsperson who can play basketball, football, cricket and volleyball. He plumps for idli and dosa with coriander chutney and hogs on seafood, chicken, tandoori and Chinese dishes. There were several pinpricks about his appearance and doubts about his talent. He has steadily strode to thrash them out and today is a leading star with mass appeal. Behind the smile is the sweat of perseverance.