Vijay Sethupathi

Vijay Sethupathi is an Indian actor and film producer whose work is centered in Tamil cinema, with additional appearances in Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi productions. Born Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi Kalimuthu in Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu, in 1978, he built an unusually gradual career: before becoming a leading actor, he worked ordinary jobs, spent time in Dubai as an accountant, returned to India, joined the Chennai theatre group Koothu-P-Pattarai and began taking small film and television parts. That slow rise later became an important part of his public image as a self-made performer.

Sethupathi first attracted wider attention after years of background and supporting roles. His first lead role came in Thenmerku Paruvakaatru, and in 2012 he broke through with a run of films including Sundarapandian, Pizza and Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom. He then established himself through varied Tamil films such as Soodhu Kavvum, Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara, Pannaiyarum Padminiyum, Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum, Iraivi and Vikram Vedha. His performances often combine understated realism with sudden changes in tone, helping him move between romance, black comedy, crime drama and socially conscious stories.

By the late 2010s and early 2020s, Sethupathi had become one of the busiest and most versatile actors in Indian cinema. He played the transgender character Shilpa in Super Deluxe, a performance that won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also appeared in major ensemble and commercial films including Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, Petta, Master, Vikram, Jawan, Viduthalai Part I, Viduthalai Part II and Maharaja. His credits also include 96, in which he played Ramachandran, a role that became one of his widely admired romantic-drama performances.