Talk about Vijay's governance, not a woman: Actor Sanjjanaa on jibes at Trisha

Actor Sanjjanaa Galrani has come out in support of Trisha after the actor became the target of political criticism following her appearance at the state's Independence Day celebrations. Speaking to India Today, Sanjjanaa questioned why the focus was on a woman instead of Vijay's performance as a politician.“If you have the guts, then talk professionally about Thalapathy Vijay. Talk about his governance. Why are you talking about a woman?” she said.Sanjjanaa's comments come days after the DMK's mouthpiece Murasoli criticised Vijay over Trisha's presence in the front row during the Independence Day celebrations at Fort St George on Saturday. In a sharply worded editorial, the newspaper took issue with the actor being seated alongside Vijay's parents and the two exchanging salutes during the ceremony, calling it a "shameful spectacle."Reacting to the controversy, Sanjjanaa said she believed the focus on Vijay's personal life was an attempt to distract from his political record. “It's extremely sad, and we have to look down on this situation and how it's turned out to be. If it had been a man or a woman, I think, at this point in time, they are not able to find anything professionally against Thalapathy Vijay,” she said.She went on to praise Vijay's political functioning, claiming that his quick responses and active social media team had won appreciation beyond Tamil Nadu. “And when you can't find anything professionally, not just Tamil Nadu, the whole country appreciates his instant responses, his social media team being active throughout the night, resolving major issues — like roads, leaking water tanks in villages, gold coins for kids born in government hospitals. Everything is being initiated fast,” Sanjjanaa said.Calling him "one of the most efficient CMs, she said, "He became the CM yesterday, and so many schemes are successfully running."Sanjjanaa also pointed to the growing political support for Vijay online, saying, “We see social media buzzing, where people are saying that he should be the next PM — that's the kind of fan following he's getting, not as an actor but as a politician.”According to her, when political criticism does not work, the focus can shift towards a politician's personal life.“When you cannot target a politician politically, you try to find a personal agenda, try to target a personal weakness and try to put them down,” she said. Sanjjanaa also criticised the remarks targeting Trisha and stressed that the actor deserved the same respect as anyone else in the public eye. “It is very important to respect a woman of any stature. Trisha's a successful actor who deserves an equal amount of respect. And whatever it is, it's their personal choice,” she said.Adding further, she said, “Why are you judging them based on their choice — whether they're friends, husband and wife, or girlfriend-boyfriend? Talk about Vijay's achievements as a politician. Talk about flaws. You won't find any flaws, but that doesn't mean you go ahead and target a woman.”Why did Murasoli target Vijay by dragging Trisha?The controversy began after Trisha's presence at the Tamil Nadu government's Independence Day celebrations sparked renewed discussion about her equation with Vijay.In its editorial, Murasoli accused Vijay of compromising the dignity of the Chief Minister's office by having an actor seated in the front row and exchanging salutes with her during the ceremony.“On Independence Day, the dignity of Chief Minister Vijay flew away in the wind. Without any shame or hesitation, he made an actress sit in the front row and exchanged repeated salutes back and forth — a sight that even those who voted for him could not digest,” the editorial said.Trisha, in a yellow saree, was seated next to Vijay's parents during the event and was seen saluting as Vijay hoisted the national flag. Her presence at the ceremony became particularly significant because it followed her appearance at Vijay's swearing-in ceremony in May, where she was seen getting emotional.The actor's relationship with Vijay has been the subject of speculation for years, particularly amid reports and public discussion surrounding Vijay's personal life.- EndsPublished On: Aug 19, 2026 16:51 IST