Tamil filmstar Vijay, popularly known as Thalapathy, recently announced the formation of his political party Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam, following in the footsteps of stars like M.G. Ramachandran, J. Jayalalithaa and N.T. Rama Rao, who cashed in on their mass appeal to create a stronghold in regional politics. Here’s a look at eight such film personalities from southern India who ventured into active politics before the Leo star.

Chiranjeevi (Andhra Pradesh)

Chiranjeevi, referred to as the ‘Megastar’, ventured into politics by forming the Praja Rajyam party in 2008 after an illustrious acting career spanning decades. The Godfather star’s political journey eventually led to his party’s merger with the Indian National Congress. The 68-year-old also served as the Minister of State for Tourism in the UPA government back in 2012.

Rajinikanth (Tamil Nadu)

Born as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad in Bangalore, Rajinikanth’s journey from a bus conductor to a superstar is nothing short of a fairy tale. Rajinikanth, who made his acting debut in the Tamil film Apoorva Raagangal in 1975 and shot to fame with his portrayal of the antagonist in the 1977 film 16 Vayathinile, joined politics in 2017 by forming Rajini Makkal Mandram. However, the Jailer star’s foray into politics was short-lived, as he dissolved his party in 2021.

Kamal Haasan (Tamil Nadu)

National Award-winning actor Kamal Haasan, another stalwart of Tamil cinema, founded Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) in 2018 after gaining immense popularity across India for films down south as well as in Bollywood. The Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee initiated his political journey by paying obeisance at the memorial of late President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram. During the 2019 general elections, his party contested 37 seats but failed to make a mark. In the 2021 Tamil Nadu state elections, Haasan contested the Coimbatore South assembly constituency, where he narrowly lost to the BJP.

Upendra (Karnataka)

Kannada actor-filmmaker Upendra, known for his representation of Indian politics in films like Operation Antha (1995), joined the Karnataka Pragnyavanta Janata Paksha party in 2017. A year later, he announced the formation of the Karnataka Uttama Prajaakeeya Party. Although Upendra did not contest elections, he fielded candidates in various constituencies during the 2019 Karnataka elections.

Pawan Kalyan (Andhra Pradesh)

Renowned for his acting style and mannerisms, Telugu actor Konidela Pawan Kalyan boasts a substantial fan base and enjoys a devoted following. He marked his debut in acting with the 1996 film Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi, but it was his role in Tholi Prema (1998) that propelled him to stardom, earning the film the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu that year. Transitioning to politics in 2008, Kalyan assumed the role of youth wing president in his brother Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party, only to depart after its merger with the Congress party. Subsequently, in March 2014, he established the Jana Sena Party.

Suresh Gopi (Kerala)

Suresh Gopi — an accomplished actor, playback singer, and television presenter — began as a child artiste in the 1965 film Odayil Ninnu. Over the years, he has amassed an impressive filmography, featuring in over 250 films, predominantly in Malayalam. He received the National Film Award and the Kerala State Film Award in 1998 for his performance in Kaliyattam. During his college days, Suresh Gopi was associated with the Students’ Federation of India. In 2016, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India. Subsequently, he joined the BJP and contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 from the Thrissur constituency.

Khushbu Sundar (Tamil Nadu)

Khushbu Sundar began her acting career as a child artiste in the Hindi film The Burning Train (1980). After featuring in several films across languages, Khushbu took a break from the big screen and got into television in the 1990s. She ventured into politics by joining the DMK in 2010. Later, in 2014, she became a member of the Congress party and served as its national spokesperson. In 2020, Khushbu joined BJP, where she currently holds the position of a national executive committee member.

Udhayanidhi Stalin (Tamil Nadu)

Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin began his journey in the entertainment industry as a producer and distributor. Through his production house Red Giant Movies, Udhayanidhi produced and distributed notable films such as Kuruvi (2008), Aadhavan (2009), Manmadan Ambu (2010) and 7aum Arivu (2011). Udhayanidhi debuted as an actor with the romantic comedy Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (2012). He contested the Tamil Nadu state elections in 2021 from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni seat. He was sworn in as a minister for youth welfare and sports development in his father's cabinet in 2022. Udhayanidhi retired from acting in 2023 to focus entirely on politics.