Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has praised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, calling him her “lucky charm” on Celebrity MasterChef Tamil, which she currently hosts.
In the trailer for an upcoming episode, RJ Vijay asks Samantha to name her favourite star during the Hero vs Villain challenge. The actor responds that her admiration for Vijay is well known. “He is my lucky charm. I worked with him in three superhits,” she says.
Samantha is referring to the three Tamil films she starred in alongside Vijay — Kaththi (2014), Theri (2016) and Mersal (2017).
She also discusses Vijay’s decision to leave cinema and pursue a career in politics, describing him as an inspiration. Reflecting on his choice to step away from films at the height of his career, Samantha says that becoming a leader and taking on the responsibilities of governance requires considerable commitment.
"He is an inspiration as a person. Crores of fans, and to choose to be a leader, to choose governance, quiet, focused, and working so hard behind the scenes. Walking away from cinema at the peak of one's career to enter politics is not an easy decision," she says.
She also observes that Vijay entered politics at the right time.
Produced by Endemol Shine India, Celebrity MasterChef Tamil airs Monday to Friday at 8 pm on Sony VIZHA and streams on Sony LIV.
Vijay made his screen debut as a child actor in 1984 with Vetri, directed by his father, S.A. Chandrasekhar. He made his debut as a lead actor with Naalaiya Theerpu in 1992, a film directed by his father and produced by his mother, Shoba. His career gained momentum with the commercial success of Coimbatore Mappillai in 1996, and he went on to become one of Tamil cinema’s leading stars.
Vijay formally announced his entry into politics in 2024 and launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). His final film, Jana Nayagan, initially scheduled for a Pongal release, was delayed following issues with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) before eventually releasing in July.
Samantha was last seen in Maa Inti Bangaaram. She is expecting her first child with filmmaker Raj Nidimoru.