In 2009, C Joseph Vijay, a prominent actor in Tamil Nadu, expressed interest in joining the Indian National Congress. However, Rahul Gandhi, then Congress general secretary, advised him to contest the Youth Congress elections to prove his political mettle. This suggestion led Vijay to retreat to Chennai, sidelining his political aspirations. Despite this setback, Vijay maintained a cordial relationship with Gandhi, and his father, SA Chandrasekhar, was inclined towards Congress ideology. Fast forward to the present, as Congress seeks to regain lost power in Tamil Nadu, Chandrasekhar urged the party to ally with Vijay, suggesting that his popularity could bolster their political standing. The dynamics of their 2009 interaction have resurfaced, with Congress now reevaluating its stance on Vijay, who has since become a significant figure in Tamil Nadu politics.