‘Why Would I Be Jealous?’ Rajinikanth Praises Vijay’s Rise

Superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday firmly dismissed speculation surrounding his recent meeting with DMK president M. K. Stalin and rejected claims that he harboured any jealousy toward Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay .

Speaking to reporters outside his Poes Garden residence in Chennai , the veteran actor clarified that his interaction with Stalin was purely a friendly and personal meeting , with no political motives attached to it. The clarification comes amid intense political discussions following the Assembly election results in Tamil Nadu, where Vijay’s TVK alliance secured power with support from Congress, Left parties, VCK and IUML.

Rajinikanth said democracy naturally brings both victories and defeats , and admitted that he felt saddened after Stalin’s electoral setback in Kolathur . However, he stressed that his meeting with the former Chief Minister should not be interpreted as an attempt to influence the state’s politics or block Vijay’s rise to power.

The actor also strongly dismissed suggestions that he was envious of Vijay’s political success. Pointing to the 25-year age gap between them, Rajinikanth said he had watched Vijay grow from a young actor into one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars before entering politics.

In a significant remark, Rajinikanth praised Vijay’s achievements and said the TVK founder had reached political heights at a younger age than iconic actor-politicians M. G. Ramachandran and N. T. Rama Rao . He said there was “no question of jealousy” and instead extended his good wishes to the new Chief Minister.

Rajinikanth also urged the public and political observers to give Vijay time to govern , noting that expectations from the new administration were extremely high. He appealed to party workers and fans to act responsibly and avoid creating unnecessary pressure during the government’s initial phase.

Reflecting on Tamil Nadu’s changing political climate, Rajinikanth observed that people had witnessed the same political pattern for decades and were looking for an alternative. According to him, Vijay emerged at the right moment to represent change in the state.

The superstar further reiterated that he stayed away from politics due to health concerns and maintained that his fans were free to support whichever political party they preferred.