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Vijayakanth Death: Actor-Politician's Lesser-Known Side Revealed By Actor Thiyagu, A Close Friend
Actor-politician Vijayakanth (71) passed away on December 28 following an alleged coronavirus infection, which followed his terminal health issues. He breathed his last at a hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The Kollywood industry and fans of the beloved 'Captain' are grieving the loss of the eminent leader and a terrific actor.
In light of this heart-breaking news, Vijayakanth's friend actor Thiyagu aka Thaiku shared an incident about his dear friend Vijayakanth. In an interview with a private channel, Thaiku spoke at length about how he and Vijayakanth had spent a large amount of quality time and shared a genuine friendship.
He reportedly said, "You don't see a brave person like Vijayakanth." Vijayakanth, who entered cinema when Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan were at their peak, initially made his debut as a villain before doing several notable films which are testimony to his acting prowess.
His friend also remembered the time when Vijayakanth was determined to make a successful hero when people compared him to Rajinikanth. He recollected, "Many people opined that Vijayakanth would disappear after a while but he stood the test of the time by earning a name as a performer and then becoming 'Captain' with his talent.
Especially in Tamil Nadu, Vijayakanth enjoyed a separate and unwavering fanbase which equals to Rajinikanth and Kamal Kaasan, which is due to his choice of films and his acting chops. He was a tall-standing actor during the period when Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan were getting a stronghold in the Kollywood industry.
Due to his honest attitude and genuine character, Vijayakanth took an interest in public affairs. He floated a political party and tried to do his bit for society as an opposition leader. It was Vijayakanth who decided to go on a fast on behalf of the actors when the Eelam Tamils were massacred and implemented. Similarly, because of his attachment to Prabhakaran, he named his son after Prabhakaran, which stirred up some controversy back then, said Thiyagu.
Vijayakanth, who was struggling as an actor became the leader of the Actors Association. He not only cleared the debt of the association amounting to Rs 1 Crore but also took out his money and deposited another Rs 1.5 Crore towards the Association before stepping down voluntarily. This incident is just an example of why people and actors of Kollywood hold a special place for Vijayakanth.
His Political entry was welcomed by his fans and the people of Tamil Nadu. Vijayakanth then emerged as a great rival to the late Karunanidhi and late Jayalalithaa, the most celebrated Chief Ministers. At one point, both parties concluded that it would be better to have an alliance with Vijayakanth. Accordingly, Vijayakanth, who allied with the AIADMK, became the leader of the opposition.
Vijayakanth's Health Issues
For long, Vijayakanth had been suffering from severe and prolonged health issues. He often underwent treatments and surgeries for different kinds of issues and mostly stayed away from active politics.
Even recently, Vijayakanth was under treatment and observation for a critical lung condition and he was discharged a couple of days ago. However, as fate would have it, Vijayakanth was again hospitalized due to an alleged coronavirus infection, which led to his subsequent death.
