Before venturing into the political arena, Vijayakanth had an illustrious career in the entertainment industry. He was a successful actor, producer, and director, starring in a total of 154 movies.

His milestone 100th film, `Captain Prabhakaran,` released in 1991, was a monumental success, running for over 200 days. 

It was this film that earned him the revered title of `Captain,` which stuck with him throughout his life.

Vijayakanth stood out by exclusively acting in Tamil films, a rarity among actors in the industry

His movies were often dubbed into Telugu and Hindi, broadening his reach beyond Tamil cinema.

During the 1990s, he showcased his versatility through various roles, despite being predominantly known as an action hero, notably in movies like `Pulan Visaranai.`

In his personal life, Vijayakanth tied the knot with Premalatha on January 31, 1990

The late veteran actor was blessed with two sons

One of his sons, Shanmuga Pandian, followed in his footsteps and pursued acting, featuring in films like `Sagaptham` (2015) and `Madura Veeran` (2018).

His contributions to the film industry and subsequent transition into politics have left a lasting mark on Tamil Nadu`s cultural and political landscape.