From silver screen hero to scandal headlines

EXTRAMARITIAL AFFAIR

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THALAPATHY Vijay with Trisha Krishnan at a wedding.

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IN TAMIL, the word "thalapathy" carries a powerful meaning. It translates to “commander” or “leader of an army”, someone who stands at the front with authority, strength and honour.

It is a title associated with bravery and moral leadership; a figure people rally behind. It is, therefore, more than a little ironic that this title has become inseparable from actor Vijay, who for years has been lovingly called "Thalapathy" by fans across the globe. Yet this past week, the conversation around the superstar has had little to do with cinema or leadership, but more with the state of his marriage.

The media in India has been in a frenzy circulating reports that Vijay's wife of more than two decades, Sangeeta, has filed for divorce on the grounds that he was having an extramarital affair with an actress.

The couple have long maintained a relatively private family life, which made the reports even more shocking to fans who had often viewed their marriage as stable.

As the week unfolded, neither Vijay nor Sangeeta publicly addressed the speculation, leaving social media to do what it does best — fill the silence with more speculation and more gossip. Or as they say in Tamil, “langada stories”. But the rumours did not end there.