Actor Vishnu Vishal defends Rajinikanth, says how can he be jealous of CM Vijay?

Actor Vishnu Vishal expressed his pain over superstar Rajinikanth having to publicly deny jealousy towards Tamil Nadu CM Vijay amidst online controversies. He highlighted the harsh scrutiny celebrities face on social media and urged fans not to confuse professional respect with personal rivalry.

In Short

• Vishnu Vishal supports Rajinikanth amid online criticism
• He calls it painful to see Rajinikanth clarify no jealousy towards CM Vijay
• Vishal highlights toxic fan rivalries don't reflect actors' real relations

Actor Vishnu Vishal has come out in support of superstar Rajinikanth, saying it was "very painful" to see Thalaivar publicly clarify that he was not jealous of Tamil Nadu CM Vijay. Speaking during promotions for Gatta Kusthi 2, Vishnu reflected on the growing scrutiny celebrities face on social media and said online narratives often spiral far beyond reality.

Speaking about the culture of online criticism, in an interview with YouTube channel Rednool, Vishnu referred to the recent controversy involving Rajinikanth and Vijay, saying, "Today, a situation has arisen in which Thalaivar has to say directly that I have nothing against Vijay."

Vishal added, "We are in such an era where he is being accused of staying silent for four days and having to explain himself on the mic after the online storm. How can anyone say he's jealous after everything he has achieved? It’s very painful to see."

Vishnu also argued that fan rivalries should not be mistaken for personal differences between actors, adding that stars often share cordial relationships despite what unfolds online.

Vishal and Rajinikanth collaborated in 2024 for the film Laal Salaam.

All about Rajiikanth and Vijay's controversy

Vishnu's remarks came in the wake of the recent Rajinikanth-Vijay controversy. After Vijay's victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the veteran actor faced criticism online from some users, who accused him of not acknowledging the actor-turned-politician's win and alleged that he supported the opposition party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The superstar later addressed the speculation at a press interaction held at his Chennai residence. “Why would I be jealous of Vijay? Maybe if Kamal (Haasan) became the CM, I might get jealous,” he said in jest.

Rajinikanth said that he had congratulated Vijay as soon as the election results showed his party winning the polls, though he admitted he was surprised to see Vijay become the state's CM in his first-ever election.

Rajinikanth on not wishing CM Vijay on his birthday

During the title launch of his upcoming film Dharmam held earlier this week, Rajinikanth also referred to the trolling he faced for not wishing CM Vijay on his birthday on June 22.

"The moment someone says they are calling me to speak, I feel hesitant. Because whenever I speak, it becomes a problem, either for you or for me," he said. He added that even remaining silent attracted criticism. "If I stay quiet, they will make fun of me saying, 'Why isn't he speaking? Has he kept a kozhukattai in his mouth?'"

According to the makers, Rajinikanth will play a "deadly doctor" in the film. Simran Bagga and Raashi Khanna are part of the cast, while the technical team includes Anirudh Ravichander as music composer.

Meanwhile, Vishnu Vishal's Gatta Kushti 2 will hit theatres on July 3.

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