Priyanka Chopra made her acting debut in the Tamil film Thamizhan (2002), co-starring with Tamil superstar Vijay, who recently took office as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after his party, the Tamil Maanila Congress (TVK), won 108 seats in the Assembly elections. In a podcast interview, Chopra reflected on the intense fan following Vijay commanded, stating that it felt like being in the presence of a 'demi-god.' Despite her initial struggles with the Tamil language, Chopra practiced diligently to perfect her performance. Her mother, Madhu Chopra, recounted how Priyanka's determination and the supportive film crew helped her adapt and enjoy the experience. Directed by Majith and produced by G. Venkateswaran, Thamizhan became a commercial hit, focusing on a lawyer's battle against corruption and making legal knowledge accessible to the public.