Vijay attacked after paying last respects to Vijayakanth; this is what netizens had to say...

Tamil star Thalapathy Vijay was among the people who paid his last respects to the late actor and politician Vijayakanth yesterday (December 28). A slipper was hurled at Vijay after he said his final adieu to his mentor, Vijayakanth. This happened when the Leo actor was returning from the funeral. The now-viral video shows Vijay being pulled into the crowd, narrowly escaping being hit by a slipper that was thrown from a mob of fans. The actor remained unfazed and got into his car. 

The video is being widely circulated online and netizens have expressed their shock over the disgraceful act committed during a vulnerable moment. Many users said that they were disappointed at the person who hurled the slipper, while others sympathised with Vijay, who was earlier breaking down at the funeral. 

Vijayakanth, a mentor to Vijay

Vijay, whose acting career began as a child artist, became a lead actor with Naalaya Theerpu (1992), which was directed by his father, SA Chandrasekhar. However, the film bombed at the box office. It was then that Chandrasekhar made an important decision: to cast Vijay with the then-established hero, Vijayakanth. This helped Vijay get acceptance from the masses. Vijayakanth, who has frequently collaborated with Chandrashekar, generously agreed to star alongside Vijay on a project, even letting go of his fee. 

In an interview in 1998, Vijay acknowledged this kind gesture from Vijayakanth and said, "Vijayakanth sir has always been a mentor to me, then and now. My father did a movie with him (Senthoorapandi), in which I was his younger brother. So, audiences got introduced to me through that film because they had come to watch Vijayakanth sir. That was the intention with which the film was made. The movie went on to become a success.”

‘Leo’ Thalapathy Vijay breaks down at his mentor Vijayakanth's funeral 

A legend passes away

Vijayakanth, 71, tested positive for COVID-19 and succumbed to complications as a result on December 28. The actor is survived by his wife Premalatha and sons Shanmuga Pandian and Vijaya Prabhakaran.

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