Tamil Actors Who Tried Their Luck In Politics

Dravidian politics and cinema share a long-standing connection. In Tamil Nadu, ideologies often overlap on screens and in politics. Recently, Thalapathy Vijay joined the tradition of actors from the Tamil film industry entering state politics.

Here’s a list of Tamil actors tried their luck in politics

KR Ramasway

KRR Ramaswamy or KRR is said to be the first actor-politician of Tamil cinema, where many stars followed his footsteps. He began his career in theatre, and then entered movies, where he acted in 25 movies. He dabbled with politics majorly with Dravidar Kazhagam and then to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He became a member of the legislative council of the DMK in 1960, and remained a party loyalist till his death.

MG Ramachandran

MG Ramachandran (Image: aiadmk.org)

Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran or MGR is popularly called as ‘Puratchi Thalaivar’. He became a Member of Legislative Council in Madras State and a prominent face of the DMK by 1962. He formed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in 1972 after his drift with M. Karunanidhi and then split with DMK in the same year. He served as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for three consecutive terms from June 1977 until his passing in December 1987.

Sivaji Ganesan

Sivaji Ganesan (Image: instagram.com/iamvikramprabhu)

The actor entered into politics as an activist of the Dravidar Kazhagam and later became a DMK sympathiser and continued his support for the party till 1956. Later, he joined the Tamil National Party formed by former members of the DMK. The party then merged with Congress where he accepted the leadership of the Congress veteran K. Kamaraj. In 1988, he quit the Congress and launched his own party Thamizhaga Munnetra Munnani. The party, later aligned with the AIADMK (Janaki) faction. However, after failure in the election, his political career came to an end and later merged with the Janata Dal.

S S Rajendran

Sedapatti Suryanarayana Thevar Rajendran, popularly known as SSR is contemporary of MGR and Sivaji Ganesan in both cinema and politics. He joined DMK and became the first actor to be elected as a legislator in the country, from Theni in 1962. Subsequently, he got elected as a member of Rajya Sabha in 1970. Later, he joined AIADMK and re-elected to the Assembly from Andipatti in 1980.

J. Jayalalithaa

J. Jayalalithaa (Image: aiadmk.org.in)

Jayaram Jayalalithaa served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for six terms. After joining the AIADMK in 1982, Jayalalithaa quickly rose above some of the senior members of the party and became a significant leader. She became a Rajya Sabha member in 1984 and then the Propaganda Secretary of the party. The successful on-screen jody – MGR and Jayalalithaa – gave the latter an edge to accentuate her position in the party as well among the public. She, thus, became the general secretary of the party after MGR’s demise.

Vijayakanth

Vijayakant (Image: instagram.com/iamvikramprabhu)

Vijayakant, widely referred as Captain, founded Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in 2005 and put forward it as alternative to both the DMK and AIADMK. In the 2006 State Assembly elections, his party polled over 8% of the total votes and in 2009 Lok Sabha elections, it polled more than 10.3%. Vijakant made pre-poll alliance with AIADMK before the 2011 State Assembly elections, and won 29 seats, six more than the DMK. He then became the Leader of the Opposition. In 2016, he helmed the People Welfare Front, consisting MDMK, VCK, CPI and CPM, but failed to win any seat.

Radha Ravi

Radha Ravi started his political career during the early 2000s as a campaigner for the DMK. Later, he joined the AIADMK and won the Saidapet seat in the 2002 State Assembly by-elections. He left AIADMK and joined DMK in 2017. In 2019, Radha Ravi was expelled by the DMK for the sexist remarks against actress Nayanthara. After the expulsion, he joined AIADMK in the same year, after few months, he left the party and joined BJP.

Ramarajan

Ramarajan, popularly known as Makkal Nayagan, is a director, screenwriter, and actor. In 1998, he was elected as AIADMK candidate from Thiruchendur Lok Sabha constituency.

T Rajendar

Vijay Thesingu Rajendar, also known as TR, had a multifaceted career, an actor-director, music composer, and story writer. He began his political journey with the DMK and left the party during the 1989 Assembly election stating that his followers were overlooked at the time of nomination, the Hindu reports. He founded two parties – Thayaga Marumalarchi Kazhagam (TMK) and All India Latchiya Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – on different periods. During his time with the DMK, he served as the propaganda secretary of DMK and in the 1996 Assembly polls, he was elected from Park Town constituency.

K. Bhagyaraj

Krishnaswamy Bhagyaraj helmed multiple titles in Tamil cinema including film director, screenwriter, actor, composer, and film producer. He launched the party, MGR Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (MGR MMK) in 1989. It failed in its initial stages. He then, joined AIADMK. In 2006, Bhagyaraj joined the DMK, but soon quit the party.

R Sarath Kumar

Sarath Kumar and Radhika with PM Modi

The DMK fielded Sarath Kumar in the Tirunelveli Lok Sabha constituency in the 1998 election and lost to the AIADMK. After eight years, he shifted allegiance to AIADMK. During 2001-06, he served as DMK MP in the Rajya Sabha. After rejoining the AIADMK in 2006, he parted ways within a few months before starting his own party the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi in 2007. After four years, he had an understanding with the AIADMK and became an MLA from Tenkasi. In 2016, he contested from Tiruchendur on the AIADMK symbol and lost. However, this year he merged his party with the BJP. His wife, actor Radhika contested as the BJP candidate from the Virudhunagar Lok Sabha seat and lost.

Khushbu

Khushbu (Image: instagram.com/khushsundar)

Khushbu joined DMK in 2010 while it was in power. Four years later, actor resigned from her post and joined Congress. In 2020, she quit Congress and joined BJP. Khushbu unsuccessfully contested from Thousand Lights Assembly constituency in 2021 as a BJP candidate. She was serving as a member of the National Commission for Women and last week she resigned from the post stating that she wanted to engage in active politics.

Karthik

Karthik joined the All India Forward Bloc and was appointed as the Secretary of the state unit of the party. In 2009, he started his own party Ahila India Naadalum Makkal Katchi before the Lok Sabha polls.

Napoleon

As a DMK candidate, Napoleon won from Villivakkam and Perambalur constituencies in 2001 Assembly election and 2009 Lok Sabha polls, respectively. He has also served a Union Minister of State in the UPA government. He joined BJP in 2014 and was made party’s state vice-president in 2015.

Arun Pandian

Arun Pandian entered politics through Vijayaknath’s DMDK. In 2011 assembly polls, he elected from Peravurani on a DMDK ticket. In 2016, before the polls, Pandian along with nine other MLAs resigned from the party and joined AIADMK.

Vaagai Chandrasekar

Vaagai Chandrasekar contested and won from Velachery constituency in 2016 legislative assembly election as a DMK candidate.

S. S. Chandran

S. S. Chandran associated with AIADMK and served as a Rajya Sabha member from 2001- 2007. He has also exercised the role of the deputy secretary (propaganda) for the party.

S. Ve. Shekher

Sattanathapuram Venkataraman Shekher’s political career began in 2006 as a legislator for AIADMK from Mylapore. He was later expelled from the party in 2009. Though he joined Congress later, he got expelled from the party as well for working against the party’s interests. IN 2013, Shekhar joined BJP.

Karunaas

Karunaas founded political outfit known as Mukkulathor Puli Padai, a party that claimed the support of the Thevar community. In 2016 State Assembly polls, he contested and won from Thiruvadanai constituency on a AIADMK ticket.

Seeman

Seeman formed the party Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), a Tamil ultranationalist political party in 2010. Since the 2011 Assembly polls, Seeman and NTK actively involved in raising voice against various social issues. During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Seeman stated his support to AIADMK, stating his party’s campaign to defeat all other parties. With an aim to reviv old Tamil culture and traditions, NTK formed Veera Thamizhar Munnani in 2015. In 2016 Assembly election, NTK contested all the 234 assembly constituencies presenting Seeman as the Chief Ministerial candidate, but failed to secure even one seat. In 2019 Lok Sabha polls also, NTK contesred in all 39 constituencies but only won 4% of vote share.

Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan with Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra (image: instagram.com/ikamalhaasan)

Parthasarathy Srinivasan popularly known as Kamal Haasan entered politics after formation of his party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) in 2018. In 2019 Lok Sabha election, his party contested in all constituencies in the state and lost. Similarly, in 2021 Assembly polls, Kamal Haasan unsuccesfully contested from from Coimbatore South and lost. In the Lok Sabha polls conducted early this year, MNM did not contested any candidates and extended support to DMK. Political messages and his idelogical leanings are embedded in many of his movies, and has been openly critical of the religious-right wing forces in the country. However, his party failed to make any mark so far.

Udhayanidhi Stalin

Though Udhayanidhi Stalin was coming from the family of Dravidian stalwarts, his entry as a full-time politician was only very later. But his rise in the DMK as well as in the government was quick. In 2021 Assembly elections, Stalin’s vigorous campaign ensured major win for the party. In the polls, he contested and won in the Chepauk – Thiruvallikeni Assembly Constituency and sworn in as the minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development in 2022.

Radikaa Sarathkumar

Radikaa Sarathkumar joined the AIADMK in 2006 but was expelled for anti-party activities. In 2024 Lok Sabha election, she contested from the Virudhunagar constituency on a BJP ticket but lost.

Vijay

Actor Vijay launched his party TVK recently

Thalapathy Vijay announced the formation of his political party Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TMK) in February 2024. Presented it as a party against corruption and divisiveness, actor declared, his party would enter the electoral field in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. On August 22, Vijay unveiled party flag alongside the party anthem.