Vijay’s schoolteacher recalls his childhood: ‘Quiet, kind, and a natural leader’

Long before he became one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars, Vijay was a quiet, soft-spoken child who largely kept to himself. Despite playing larger-than-life characters on screen, those who knew him growing up paint a very different picture. The actor, who is now set to become Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was a shy, grounded boy with a strong sense of empathy, according to his schoolteacher.

A shy child with a kind heart

Vijay’s schoolteacher, Vasantha, recently opened up about his early years, describing him as someone who was “very obedient, honest, and very helpful to others”.

“He is a very honest person and used to help all his fellow students a lot. Even if we scolded him, he would never show any anger or harbour any hard feelings against us going forward,” she said in a conversation with Galatta Pink.

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She also noted that his reserved nature was evident even back then. “He was soft-spoken and got along well with everyone. I never saw him have disagreements with anyone. In fact, you wouldn’t even know he was at the school (since he was very quiet). When I watch his aggressive movies, I wonder if this is the same Vijay.”

Leadership traits from a young age

While he may have been quiet, Vijay showed early signs of leadership. According to Vasantha, he was often entrusted with organising school events. “He would organise all the events. If we had to do something at school, he would take responsibility and coordinate everything himself,” she recalled.

A natural performer

Vijay’s flair for performance also goes back to his school days. “He danced well even when he was in Classes 7 and 8,” Vasantha shared, adding that he was actively involved in cultural activities.

For Vasantha, watching Vijay’s journey from a quiet student to a superstar remains a source of pride. “I feel very proud to say that Vijay was my student,” she said.

She also revealed some of her favourite films from his career, including Kushi, Ghilli, Thuppakki and Mersal.

A telling anecdote of his popularity

Sharing a moment that captures Vijay’s massive fan following, Vasantha recalled an incident from a few years ago. “Once, there was construction work happening nearby. Vijay’s aunt told a worker that I was the one who taught Vijay. As soon as she said that, he came and fell at my feet on the road,” she said. “People react like that as soon as I say I was Vijay’s teacher.”

From quiet beginnings to mass icon

The contrast between Vijay’s real-life personality and his on-screen image is striking. But perhaps that’s what makes his journey even more compelling- a quiet, grounded child who grew up to become a larger-than-life star, without losing the humility that defined him from the start.

Thalapathy Vijay marked his entry into electoral politics with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), quickly emerging as a disruptive force in Tamil Nadu. The debut significantly dented the long-standing dominance of both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its rival, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). In a result that reshaped the state’s political landscape, TVK crossed the 100-seat mark, establishing itself as a formidable new player, though it fell short of the majority mark of 118 seats, stopping just shy of forming the government.

With a coalition government, he is all set to soon become the chief minister of the state.