Vijay Sethupathi: The Journey of “Makkal Selvan”
Vijay Sethupathi, called the “Makkal Selvan,” is one of the most beloved actors ever to grace Indian cinema. His rise to fame is one that exemplifies endurance, acting in uncredited roles or small roles and eventually becoming one of the most versatile and bankable stars in Tamil cinema. The man is profoundly multi-talented. Not only did he act, but he went further to establish himself as a producer, lyricist, and playback singer.
Early Life & Personal Background
The birth name of Vijay Sethupathi was Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi; he was born on January 16, 1978, in Rajapalayam in Tamil Nadu. From here, the entire family shifted to Chennai. Raised in a middle-class environment, his father, Kalimuthu, and mother, Saraswati, ingrained in him a very simple value system coupled with the virtue of hard work.
Vijay is married to Jessie. The couple has two kids, elevating their status as an average middle-class family from another angle. This family has always been the great support of Vijay, bearing with all the ups and downs in his career.
Education
He completed his schooling at MGR Higher Secondary School, Kodambakkam, and went on to pursue a B.Com degree at Dhanraj Baid Jain College, Chennai. During his student years, he juggled multiple part-time jobs — from being a salesman and cashier to working at a phone booth — before securing work as an accountant in Dubai.
Physical Appearance
Known for his approachable charm, Vijay Sethupathi stands 5’9” (175 cm) tall and weighs about 65 kg. He has a strong connection with people for his everyman appeal, with black eyes and hair and is a down-to-earth person.
The Career Journey
After getting small roles in M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi (2004) and a few TV serials like Penn (2006), he got the major break with Pizza and Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom in 2012. Soodhu Kavvum (2013), with his strange antics, really settled the statement that he is indeed a very versatile actor.
Some of the best films of his career include:
Rummy (2014)
Pannaiyarum Padminiyum (2014)
Orange Mittai (2015, also producer)
Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum (2016)
Vikram Vedha (2017)
96 (2018)
Super Deluxe (2019)
Ka Pae Ranasingam (2020) with Aishwarya Rajesh
Awards & Honors
His great acting has earned him:
Norway Tamil Film Festival Award (2012) – Pizza
Vijay Award for Best Actor (2013) – Soodhu Kavvum
Filmfare Best Actor Award (2017) – Vikram Vedha
IFFM Award (2019) – Super Deluxe
Filmfare South (2019) – 96
Net Worth & Facts
Among Tamil cinema’s top-paid stars, Vijay charges ₹3–4 crore per film, with an estimated net worth of $6 million.
Interesting tidbits about him:
Worked as an accountant in Dubai before films.
Sharpened his acting skills with Koothu-P-Pattarai, a theatre group in Chennai.
Named his son Surya after a close childhood friend.
Launched Vijay Sethupathi Productions in 2015, debuting as a producer with Orange Mittai.
