# Nani says Tamil Nadu chose Vijay for trust, not stardom

2026-09-18T10:11:51+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Telugu actor Nani said Tamil voters backed Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for the trust he built over years, not for his box-office pull. Speaking at a Chennai press event for his film The Paradise, Nani said Vijay's connection with people made them feel he was family. He added that online clips showed Vijay was "rocking" in the Assembly. Nani also questioned why successful South Indian films are called pan-India while Hindi films are not, saying he will not use that label for his work. Vijay, a Tamil superstar, launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in 2024 and was sworn in as CM on May 10 after elections. His final film Jana Nayagan grossed Rs 324.54 crore worldwide. The Paradise, directed by Srikanth Odela, releases on September 24.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Both outlets report Nani's remarks neutrally, with no discernible slant. Hindustan Times leads with the stardom-versus-trust framing and includes box-office data on Vijay's film. Times of India adds Nani's separate comments on the pan-India label and his earlier post on the election. The coverage is uniform straight reporting, reflecting wire-style handling. A reader should note that Nani's praise, while genuine, comes from a fellow actor, not an independent observer. Vijay's performance in office remains untested beyond initial assembly clips.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/nani-says-tamil-people-did-not-vote-for-chief-minister-c-joseph-vijay-because-of-box-office-numbers-the-paradise-101789711428849.html>
  Leads with the stardom-versus-trust debate and includes box-office figures for context
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/its-not-just-about-his-stardom-or-box-office-success-nani-praises-tamil-nadu-cm-vijays-political-journey-during-the-paradise-promotions-questions-pan-india-tag-for-south-films/articleshow/134329491.cms>
  Adds Nani's criticism of the pan-India label and his prior congratulatory post

Tags: C Joseph Vijay, Nani, Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, The Paradise
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Cite: https://indianopinion.org/nani-says-tamil-nadu-chose-vijay-for-trust-not-stardom/#story-in-brief