Actor Vishal has expressed his affection for his longtime friend and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, days after backing the action taken against the DMK leader over his controversial remark perceived to be aimed at actor Trisha.
Recalling their college days, he said his affection for Udhayanidhi began when his friend was in love with his director-wife Kiruthiga.
“I love Udhaya and Kiruthiga.
According to Vishal, Udhayanidhi was particular about establishing his own identity and did not rely on his father’s name even during his college years.
“He never uses his father's name, even in college,” Vishal added.
Actor Vishal has expressed his affection for his longtime friend and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, days after backing the action taken against the DMK leader over his controversial remark perceived to be aimed at actor Trisha. Speaking at the audio launch of his upcoming directorial debut Magudam, Vishal said there would be no personal animosity between them, even if their political paths eventually diverge.
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Despite his comments on the controversy, Vishal made it clear that his personal equation with Udhayanidhi remains unchanged. Recalling their college days, he said his affection for Udhayanidhi began when his friend was in love with his director-wife Kiruthiga.
“I love Udhaya and Kiruthiga. Come what may, I will always love them. My love for Udhaya started during our student days, when he was in love with Kiruthiga. There is no chance of enmity between us,” Vishal said.
He went on to address speculation about his own political ambitions, saying that even if he enters politics, it would not affect his friendship with Udhayanidhi. “Even if I enter politics tomorrow, it would only be healthy competition. There will never be a rift or conflict between us,” he said.
What did Vishal say about Udhayanidhi's arrest?
Udhayanidhi was detained and later released after being questioned for about an hour at Sengipatti Police Station in Thanjavur earlier this month. His detention came amid protests and criticisms over remarks perceived to be aimed at Trisha during an event over the Cauvery water dispute.
The comment, made while Udhayanidhi was criticising Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over his silence on the Cauvery issue, was widely interpreted as a sexual innuendo aimed at the actor and triggered significant backlash.
Reacting to the arrest, Vishal, while speaking to ANI, had said that incidents such as Udhayanidhi’s detention can happen in politics, but stressed that the same standard should apply to everyone who makes derogatory remarks about women.
“These kinds of incidents do happen in political scenarios. So I wish that whatever happened to Udhay, the same kind of punishment happens to everyone who speaks ill about women in our fraternity,” he said. Vishal also called for action against YouTube content creators and social media users who target women in the film industry.
“There are so many other people on YouTube; there are so many other people who have been openly speaking, hitting below the belt about our female fraternity. So I wish it were the same treatment,” he added.
Vishal recalls college days with Udhayanidhi
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At the Magudam audio launch, Vishal also reminisced about his college days with Udhayanidhi, recalling how the two were repeatedly stopped by traffic police in Gopalapuram for riding triple. “We have been caught by the traffic police in Gopalapuram several times because we used to ride triple. The police would ask for our licences, and I would make Udhaya tell them his father's name. But he would hesitate every time,” he recalled.
According to Vishal, Udhayanidhi was particular about establishing his own identity and did not rely on his father’s name even during his college years. “He never uses his father's name, even in college,” Vishal added.
Vishal not ruling out politics
Vishal also hinted that 2031 could potentially be significant for his political ambitions, though he said he currently has other priorities, including completing the Nadigar Sangam building and getting married. “Politics should come as a calling. It might happen in 2031, but right now I have several commitments, including completing the Nadigar Sangam building and getting married. I am not ruling politics out entirely,” he said.
Vishal is currently gearing up for the release of Magudam, which marks his directorial debut. Also starring Anjali and Dushara Vijayan, the film is scheduled to hit theatres on August 14.
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