When Mohanlal addressed Thalapathy Vijay’s fan following in Kerala: ‘This was destined to happen…’

South superstars Mohanlal and Vijay, who is set to appear next in Jana Nayagan, had first teamed up for Jilla in 2014. Could Vijay's film challenge the records set by Mohanlal's Thudarum in Kerala?

Mohanlal and Thalapathy Vijay

As Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay celebrates his 51st birthday, the actor’s fan following across the South States and especially in Kerala, which has been traditionally dominated by legends like Mohanlal and Mammootty, deserves a special mention.

Celebrate the superstardom of Mohanlal and Thalapathy Vijay by streaming Jilla on OTTplay Premium today

While many in Kerala would think that Mohanlal and Mammootty’s movies have been vying with each other for the industry’s box-office records, this has not been the case. In fact, Mohanlal, who has been on a record-breaking run this year, has faced the stiffest competition last decade from Thalapathy Vijay’s films. More recently, his movie Thudarum broke the two-year record of Leo, by becoming the fastest movie to gross Rs 50 Cr in Kerala.

When Mohanlal called Thalapathy Vijay his ‘younger brother’

This is also why their team-up in 2014 for the Tamil film Jilla, where Mohanlal played dad to Vijay’s character of Shakti, got a rousing welcome in theatres - both from fans in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Also read: Jana Nayagan ‘First Roar’ reactions: Thalapathy Vijay fans say ‘No Logic & Awards are Needed’

For Mohanlal himself, the collaboration was special. In an interview in 2013 from the sets of Jilla, the superstar had told this reporter, “More than him respecting him, I respect him and love him because he’s such a down-to-earth person. Now, I am not surprised with the huge fan-following he has, not just in Tamil Nadu but in Kerala too.”

Referring to Vijay as his “younger brother”, he had said, “For me, he’s a boy next door. He has created a niche for himself in the industry and I am sure this (collaboration) was destined to happen.”

Can Vijay’s Jana Nayagan break Thudarum’s records in Kerala?

Meanwhile, the makers of Vijay’s upcoming movie Jana Nayagan have released a glimpse of his character from the H Vinoth movie on his birthday, through a video titled First Roar.

The film, which will reportedly mark Vijay’s last venture ahead of plunge into politics, also has Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon and Prakash Raj in pivotal roles. Jana Nayagan is currently set for a January 9, 2026, release.

Also read: Are Mohanlal and Amal Neerad teaming up with Asif Ali, Soubin Shahir? Director clarifies | Exclusive

Given Vijay’s fan-following in Kerala and also the hype surrounding the political action-thriller, it could very well challenge the records set by Mohanlal’s films Thudarum and L2: Empuraan this year.

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