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Arun Vijay
Vijay at Vaa Press Meet in 2012
Born	Arun Kumar (1977-11-19) 19 November 1977 (age 47) Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Alma mater	Loyola College, Chennai
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1995–present
Spouse	Aarathi ​(m. 2006)​
Children	2
Parents	Vijaykumar Muthukannu
Relatives	Kavitha Vijayakumar (sister) Anitha Vijayakumar (sister) Preetha Vijayakumar (half-sister) Sridevi Vijaykumar (half-sister) Vanitha Vijayakumar (half-sister)

Arun Vijay (born 19 November 1977), formerly known as Arun Kumar, is an Indian actor who works primarily in Tamil cinema. He also starred in a few films in Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.

Born as Arun Kumar and being the only son of veteran actor Vijayakumar, he debuted in Sundar C's Murai Mappillai (1995). He received early success in Thulli Thirintha Kaalam (1998) and Pandavar Bhoomi (2001).

After a string of failures, he changed his name to Arun Vijay and achieved breakthrough success and recognition for playing lead roles in Malai Malai (2009), Maanja Velu (2010), Thadaiyara Thaakka (2012), Kuttram 23 (2017), Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018), Thadam (2019), Mafia: Chapter 1 (2020) and Yaanai (2022). He is noted for his villainous roles in Yennai Arindhaal (2015), Bruce Lee: The Fighter (2015) and Chakravyuha (2016).

He is a recipient of many awards, including a Norway Tamil Film Festival Award, two Filmfare South Awards, a Edison Award and three SIIMA Awards.

Early life

Arun Vijay was born as the only son to actor Vijayakumar and his first wife Muthukannu. He studied at Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Egmore. After completing his schooling, he joined Loyola college for his higher studies.

Career

1995-2001

Vijay had a desire to act since childhood. He developed a strong interest by watching his father during film shoots. Vijay started getting film offers when he was in tenth grade but his father wanted him to complete his schooling before acting in films.

Vijay signed on for an A. R. Rahman musical Love Story to be his acting debut, but the delay of that project meant that he accepted Anbalaya Films' offer of Sundar C's Murai Mappillai (1995). He was 18 years old when he signed to act in Murai Mapillai. This made him one of the youngest actors to debut as a hero in the Tamil film industry.

In 1996, Vijay's second film, Priyam, was released. Vijay was seen for two films Kathirunda Kadhal (1997) and Ganga Gowri (1997).

In 1998, Vijay played the lead role in director Balasekaran's film Thulli Thirintha Kaalam. It was produced by Kavithalayaa Productions, a company owned by K.Balachander.

In 2000, Vijay featured in two films, Kannaal Pesavaa and Anbudan. His career hit a nadir when Buddhan, a project which he had physically transformed for, was stalled and dropped in 2000.

In 2001, he played a civil engineer in Pandavar Bhoomi, directed by Cheran. This was the first movie in which Vijay and his father Vijayakumar acted together. This movie won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film (Second Prize) in 2001.

2002-2012

Vijay's next film was Mutham (2002). It was initially titled Muthamidalamma, but was changed after the censor screening. It was directed by S.A. Chandrasekhar and was the first film to be shot using digital cinematography in Tamil cinema. Vijay had a special appearance in Iyarkai (2003), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.

He acted in director Ramesh Selvan's Jananam (2004). The film's actress Priyanka Trivedi could not fulfill her scheduled commitments in the film, as she got married in 2003. Critics appreciated Arun Vijay's acting in the movie. In 2006, he has given a matured performance in Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu. His next projects was Thavam (2007) and Vedha (2008).

The first venture, Malai Malai (2009), directed by A. Venkatesh, became a commercial success. The next, Maanja Velu (2010), by the same team, was also a success. Arun Vijay appeared in Magizh Thirumeni's action-thriller Thadaiyara Thaakka (2012), marking a move away from his previous two Masala films.

2015-present

He starred in Yennai Arindhaal (2015) with actor Ajith Kumar. This was his first film with director Gautham Vasudev Menon. Vijay played the role of Victor, an antagonist.

On September 1, 2015, Vijay launched his own production company called In Cinemas Entertainment (ICE). He said that he launched the company to identify and provide an opportunity to ambitious and talented youngsters.

The same year, he debuted in Telugu in the film Bruce Lee - The Fighter (2015) as the lead antagonist. He also made his Kannada debut as the lead antagonist in the movie Chakravyuha in 2016. His next, Kuttram 23 (2017), returning to lead roles, was a success at the box office. His next movie was Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018), which was directed by Mani Ratnam with an ensemble cast.

In 2019, Vijay acted in Thadam, an action crime thriller. He played his first double role in this film. This was also the second film in which he and Magizh Thirumeni worked together, after Thadaiyara Thaakka. The film was loosely based on various real-life crimes where the suspects are identical twins. Thadam's biggest strength was Vijay's convincing performance as Kavin and Ezhil. In the action thriller film Saaho, Prabhas was the hero while Vijay played a supporting role. In 2020, he appeared in action crime thriller Mafia: Chapter 1 that was directed by Karthick Naren. In the film, Arun Vijay played a narcotics police officer on a mission to hunt down a drug mafia kingpin.

In 2022, he appeared in the Amazon Prime Video film Oh My Dog. The cast included Vijay, his father Vijayakumar, and his son Arnav Vijay. The next was Yaanai an action drama film written and directed by Hari. The next was released a Web Series Tamil Rockerz and later Sinam an investigative whodunit thriller in which Arun Vijay plays a cop.

Personal life

In 2006, Arun Vijay married Aarathi, daughter of film producer Dr. N. S. Mohan with whom he has a daughter, Purvi and a son, Arnav Vijay. In 2010, Arun Vijay's eldest sister Kavitha's daughter Hasini married N. S. Mohan's son Hemanth, who is a co-producer of Feather Touch Entertainments and also acted alongside Arun Vijay in Malai Malai. Arun Vijay's Hometown is Pattukkottai in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu.

Filmography

Films

• Note: He was credited as Arunkumar (sometimes Arun) from 1995 to 2006. He was credited as Arun Vijay from 2007 onwards.

All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.

Web series

As dubbing artist

Awards and nominations

References

1. Aiyappan, Ashameera (1 October 2018). "It's my time now: Arun Vijay". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
2. ^ "His career makes a steady progress – TAMIL NADU". The Hindu. 5 May 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
3. "Recap on Arun Vijay". Times Now News.
4. "Arun Kumar - Name change seems to be working".
5. "I'll prove one day: Arun Vijay". The New Stuff.
6. "Arun vijay's interest towards acting". The Hindu. 5 May 2006.
7. "Anbudan-Cautious moves". The Hindu. 19 April 2002. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
8. "Hot News Just for U". 15 May 2001. Archived from the original on 15 May 2001.
9. "Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, India".
10. "A digital take". The Hindu. 2 May 2014.
11. "National Award-winning director SP Jananathan passes away". 14 March 2021.
12. "Upendra wedding comes as a shocker!". Times of India. 16 December 2003.
13. "Film review: Jananam". The Hindu. 24 December 2004. Archived from the original on 20 November 2006.
14. "Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu Review".
15. "Thadaiyara Thaakka, a new dimension". The Hindu. 9 January 2015.
16. "How Ajith helped Arun Vijay get in shape". The Hindu. 9 January 2015.
17. "Arun Vijay, now a producer too!".
18. "Arun Vijay, now a producer too". Deccanchronicle.com. 1 September 2015.
19. "Arun Vijay makes his Kannada debut with Chakravayuha". DNA India.
20. Waseem, Mohammed. "Sandalwood debut is at the right time - Arun Vijay". Times of India.
21. "Kuttram 23 Review {3.5/5}: The film is immensely satisfying as a thriller from start to finish". The Times of India.
22. "Arun Vijay in a dual role". Gulfnews.com.
23. "Thadam review: An engaging whodunit thriller". Sify. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019.
24. Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (30 August 2019). "'Saaho' review: Prabhas' latest is a missed opportunity". The Hindu.
25. "Arun Vijay teams up with Director Hari for next film". Thenewsminute.com. 18 December 2020.
26. ^ "Arun Vijay's AV33 with director Hari titled Yaanai". Times of India. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
27. "Tamilrockerz Web Series Review: A great opportunity frittered". Cinema Express.
28. "Sinam".
29. "Arun Vijay's father-in-law passes away; Actor's wife shares an emotional note".
30. "A family affair for Vijay Kumar". The Times of India. 24 August 2010. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
31. "Arun Vijay meets his fans at his native village".
32. "Murai Mapillai". IMDb.
33. "Anbudan". IMDb.
34. "rediff.com, Movies: The Pandavar Bhoomi review". Rediff.com. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
35. "Mutham". IMDb.
36. "Iyarkai". IMDb.
37. "Jananam". Sify. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022.
38. "Azhagai Irukirai... Bayamai Irukiradhu". IMDb.
39. "Vedha". IMDb.
40. "Chakravyuha". IMDb.
41. "Chekka Chivantha Vaanam star Arun Vijay on his character Thyagu and working with Mani Ratnam". 25 September 2018.
42. "Thadam movie review: A thriller that doesn't disappoint". March 2019.
43. "Saaho is my first trilingual film: Arun Vijay". The Times of India. 17 August 2019.
44. S, Srivatsan (21 February 2020). "'Mafia: Chapter 1' movie review: A wonderfully ordinary movie with a great presentation by Karthick Naren". The Hindu.
45. "அருண் விஜய்யின் சினம் வெளியீட்டு தேதி அறிவிப்பு!". News18. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
46. "Arun Vijay's Achcham Enbadhu Illayae shooting wrapped up". Times of India. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
47. "Arun Vijay's 'Retta Thala' shooting wrapped up". The Times of India. 20 October 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
48. "Tamil Rockerz OTT Release Date, Star Cast, Plot, Trailer & More". 23 June 2022.
49. "Aladdin 2019 / Tamil cast - CHARGUIGOU". 26 December 2022.

External links

• Arun Vijay at IMDb

• 1977 births
• Living people
• Indian male film actors
• Tamil male actors
• Male actors in Tamil cinema
• Male actors in Telugu cinema
• Male actors in Kannada cinema
• Male actors from Chennai