Rajinikanth addressed the media at his Poes Garden residence on Sunday, breaking his silence after the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results and dismissing rumours surrounding his reaction to C Joseph Vijay’s victory.
The veteran actor said he decided to hold a press conference because “many rumours” were spreading about him after the elections.
Rajinikanth dismisses political rumours
Rajinikanth clarified that his meeting with former chief minister M. K. Stalin after the results had been unnecessarily politicised.
“If I do not respond to them, they will become accepted as truth,” he said. “After the election results, I went and met MK Stalin, and that became a subject of criticism. Our friendship is beyond politics. I felt saddened that MK Stalin was defeated in Kulathur.”
The actor also rejected speculation suggesting he was unhappy with Vijay’s rise or attempting to engineer political alliances behind the scenes.
“Rumours started spreading that I said Vijay shouldn’t become CM or that I was trying to merge two parties,” Rajinikanth said. “Some are saying I didn’t wish him at the airport when I had already congratulated him on X.”
‘Why would I be jealous of Vijay?’
Rajinikanth strongly denied claims that he felt threatened by Vijay’s political success.
“I’m not even in politics, so why would I be jealous of Vijay?” he said. “Maybe if Kamal Haasan becomes CM, I might get jealous,” he joked, drawing laughter.
Highlighting the age gap between them, Rajinikanth added, “There is a 25-year generation gap between Vijay and me. It won’t look good if we compete.”
He also praised Vijay’s achievement, saying the actor-politician had accomplished something extraordinary at the age of 52.
“He has achieved more than M. G. Ramachandran and N. T. Rama Rao at that age. He faced and defeated the BJP at the Centre and two major parties here. It was a surprise-filled happiness for me,” Rajinikanth said.
He added that he had “a lot of expectations” from Vijay and extended his best wishes to the new chief minister.
Clarifies absence from swearing-in ceremony
Rajinikanth also responded to criticism over not attending Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony after Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam formed the government.
“I have never participated in swearing-in ceremonies. Have you ever seen me attending the swearing-in ceremonies of past chief ministers?” he asked reporters.
The actor had publicly congratulated Vijay on May 4 after TVK’s election victory.
“My congratulations to Thiru Vijay, President of the victorious Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and to the members of his party, on their resounding victory,” Rajinikanth had posted on X.
He had also earlier spoken out in support of Vijay when the actor’s final film Jana Nayagan was leaked online in April, condemning piracy and demanding strict action against those responsible.
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