‘I used to see him and think…’ – Firstpost

The highly anticipated Tamil film Jana Nayagan, starring Vijay and widely expected to be Thalapathy’s last film before a full-time political career, has hit another legal hurdle that has delayed its release. The dispute centres on the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the film’s certification process, with the Madras High Court playing a key role in the ongoing saga. Check out what is the latest update on the fate of Vijay’s 69th film.

Senior Journalist Rahul Kanwal says the leading man who’s now entering politics spoke to him off camera and praised Bollywood star
Shah Rukh Khan. Vijay was quoted saying, “Vijay says, ‘I look up to Shah Rukh Khan; he speaks so well. His articulation, his elocution is very high. I used to see him, and I used to think, look at how well-spoken this guy is.’ He also spoke of how MGR and Jayalalithaa have been role models for him, along with Karunanidhi. He’s looked to them as stars, as models of what they were able to achieve.”

**On entering politics**

“When I entered cinema, I thought I was building a small sand house here. But you all have built me a palace. Fans helped me build a fort… That’s why I’ve decided to stand for them. For the fans who gave up everything for me, I’m giving up cinema itself,” the actor said at an audio launch organised at Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on December 27.

What has happened so far

Originally slated for a 9 January 2026 release, 
_Jana Nayagan_ has been postponed due to a delay in obtaining its censor certificate. The production company, KVN Productions, had applied for certification in December 2025 and complied with modifications suggested by the CBFC’s examining committee.

High Court intervention

The matter was taken to the Madras High Court, which initially saw a single-judge bench direct the CBFC to issue the certificate. That order was stayed by a Division Bench, which agreed to hear an appeal filed by the CBFC against the single judge’s direction.