He added, "Today, circumstances have brought me to a point where I need to enter politics."
He further said that he sought his mother's permission several times in the past to enter politics, but she never agreed.
If you say “No,” I will not enter politics and will continue my selfless service to society.
Speculation over Trichy East seatLawrence’s statement comes amid reports that he could contest from Trichy East, the seat that was initially won by Vijay and later dropped.
Vijay had contested from Trichy East and Perambur, and won both seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections held on April 23.advertisementIn Trichy East, Vijay defeated the DMK’s Inigo Irudayaraj by 27,416 votes.
Actor-filmmaker Raghava Lawrence announced on Friday that he is entering politics, amid growing speculation that he may contest from the Trichy East Assembly seat vacated by his best friend and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay. The announcement comes after reports linked Lawrence to the seat that Vijay had won in the April Tamil Nadu Assembly elections before giving it up.
In a post on X, Lawrence said he had never imagined entering politics and had not done so with the intention of earning money or seeking a seat. He said his only thought had been that if someone he believed in and was close to entered politics, he would stand by that person and work alongside them to serve society on a larger scale than he had been doing as an individual. He added, "Today, circumstances have brought me to a point where I need to enter politics."
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Lawrence promises to share his political views today
Lawrence opened his post with the line, "Do your duty sincerely, without expecting anything in return. I need your advice and guidance."
He said that in a video to be shared at 10.00 am on Friday, he had spoken about his understanding of politics, how it came into his life, his mother’s perspective on politics, and a few important and interesting incidents that had shaped his journey, "straight from my heart with complete honesty and transparency".
He also asked people to watch the video till the end and share their views with him. "Your advice and guidance mean a lot to me as I take this important step with all your blessings," he said.
At 10 am on Friday, Lawrence shared an 18-minute video in which he described how he was sad when Rajinikanth decided not to enter politics. He further said that he sought his mother's permission several times in the past to enter politics, but she never agreed. Later, when Vijay registered a historic win in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, he said that his mother's stance on politics changed and she finally gave her green signal for his political entry.
Sharing the video, he wrote on X, "Do your duty sincerely, without expecting anything in return. After watching this video, please share your advice and guidance in the comments. If you say “No,” I will not enter politics and will continue my selfless service to society. But if you say “Yes,” I am ready to enter politics. I will reveal when and with who I intend to start this journey with all your blessings (sic)."
Here's the video:
Lawrence's comment section is full of encouraging messages from his followers urging him to join his Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Speculation over Trichy East seat
Lawrence’s statement comes amid reports that he could contest from Trichy East, the seat that was initially won by Vijay and later dropped. Vijay had contested from Trichy East and Perambur, and won both seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections held on April 23.
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In Trichy East, Vijay defeated the DMK’s Inigo Irudayaraj by 27,416 votes. While contesting from the seat, he was looking to build a voter base beyond Chennai.
However, under electoral rules, a candidate can hold only one seat, which meant he had to choose between Trichy East and Perambur. Vijay later gave up Trichy East and chose to retain Perambur, reportedly because of its proximity to the State Secretariat.
Who is Raghava Lawrence?
Raghava Lawrence is an actor, choreographer, film director, producer and lyricist in Tamil cinema. He adopted the name "Raghava" in 2001 and cemented his place as one of the most sought-after choreographers in Tamil and Telugu cinema.
Lawrence is also known for his philanthropic works and have been involved in public welfare for several decades.
Vijay and Lawrence have been best friends for years and the latter made a guest appearance in Vijay's Thirumalai in 2003.
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Published By: K Janani Published On: Jun 12, 2026 09:54 IST
