Vijayakanth was an Indian politician and actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema. He was the founder and president of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) political party and served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2016.
He was also known as “Captain” among his fans and colleagues. He passed away on December 28, 2023 due to COVID-19 complications. He was 71 years old when he died.
Vijayakanth Early Life and Education
Vijayakanth was born as Vijayaraj Alagarswami in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, on 25 August 1952. His parents were K. N. Alagarswami and Aandal Azhagarswami.
He attended various schools in Madurai and Devakottai, but he could not complete his education beyond the eleventh standard due to his involvement in his father’s rice-milling business.
He later graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Pachaiyappa’s College in Chennai.
Vijayakanth Career
Vijayakanth had a long and successful career as an actor, producer and director in Tamil cinema. He acted in more than 150 films, mostly in lead roles, and won several awards and accolades. He was known for his action-oriented and patriotic movies, and earned the nickname “Captain” among his fans and colleagues.
Some of his notable films include Sattam Oru Iruttarai (1981), Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), Chinna Gounder (1992), Sethupathi IPS (1994), Ulavuthurai (1998) and Ramanaa (2002). He also produced and directed some of his own films, such as Captain Prabhakaran (1991), Vallarasu (2000) and Virudhagiri (2010).Â
Vijayakanth entered politics in 2005 and founded the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) political party. He contested in the 2006 and 2011 Tamil Nadu state assembly elections and won from the constituencies of Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam respectively.
He became the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2016. He also formed alliances with various national and regional parties, such as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). He campaigned for various issues, such as corruption, farmers’ rights, education and health.
Read Also: Rajinikanth Biography: Age, Real Name, Career, Net Worth, Awards and Family.
Vijayakanth Awards
Vijayakanth has won several awards and honours for his acting and political career. Some of them are:
- Kalaimamani (2001), an award given by the Government of Tamil Nadu to honour the excellence of artists in Tamil cinema and other fields.
- Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil (1987), for his performance in the film Amman Koil Kizhakkaalae.
- Filmfare Top 10 Legends of Tamil Cinema Award (2023), for his contribution to Tamil cinema over three decades.
Vijayakanth Personal Life, Wife and Children
Vijayakanth was married to Premalatha, who is also a politician and the current general secretary of the DMDK party. They had two sons, Vijay Prabhakar and Shanmuga Pandian, who are both actors in Tamil cinema.
Vijayakanth and his family lived in Saligramam, Chennai. He was very close to his wife and sons, and often expressed his love and gratitude for them in public events and interviews.
He was also known for his philanthropic activities, such as donating blood, providing free education and medical aid to the poor, and supporting various social causes.
Vijayakanth Net Worth
Vijayakanth’s net worth as of 2023 is estimated to be around $20 million, and his salary is estimated to be around $1 million per year. He has earned his wealth from his acting, producing and directing career in Tamil cinema, as well as from his political career as the founder and president of the DMDK party.
He also owns several properties, such as an engineering college near Chengalpet, a marriage hall in Koyembedu, Chennai, and a van used by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran.
