Jagapathi Babu in Maa Oori Vanta -Vinyaka Chaviti Special

Tamil superstar Vijay’s upcoming film Jana Nayagan, a remake of the Telugu blockbuster Bhagavanth Kesari, has once again highlighted the impact of Telugu cinema on his career. Noted writer Gopi Mohan credits Telugu stories for shaping Vijay’s rise in Kollywood, alongside the vision of Tamil directors who transformed him into a superstar.

“Vijay’s journey began with films like Priyamanavale, Youth, and Badri, which were remakes of Telugu hits Pavitra Bandham, Chirunavvutho, and Badri. By experimenting with diverse stories, he steadily expanded his fan base,” explains Gopi Mohan.

The real turning point, he notes, came with adaptations of Mahesh Babu’s blockbusters Okkadu (Ghilli) and Pokiri. “Vijay and Mahesh were of similar age and had comparable mass followings. Vijay strategically picked Telugu hits that balanced action and romance, while Mahesh avoided remakes. That strategy paid off big time for Vijay.”

The cross-industry exchange wasn’t one-sided. Pawan Kalyan succeeded with remakes of Vijay’s Love Today (Suswagatham) and Sivakasi (Annavaram), while Nagarjuna scored with Nuvvu Vastavani, a remake of Vijay’s Thulladha Manamum Thullum. Yet, according to Gopi Mohan, “Vijay consistently trusted Telugu stories to fuel his rise in Tamil cinema.”

Over the years, Vijay has built a strong market in the Telugu states through direct releases and dubbed versions like Thuppaki, Master, and Leo, earning over ₹22 crore. “With Jana Nayagan, he is expected to cross ₹25 crore in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, though he still falls slightly short of Rajinikanth’s market there,” Gopi Mohan adds.

When asked if Vijay could replicate Pawan Kalyan’s journey from superstar to Deputy Chief Minister, Gopi Mohan laughs, “Not at all. Vijay has his own path. Pawan’s political success came after a decade of relentless effort and unprecedented public support. Vijay’s focus remains cinema, but 2026 may reveal new chapters in his journey.”