The news that Sangeetha was divorcing Vijay hit Tamil Nadu like a sudden summer storm. Their marriage had been seen as stable and almost mythical for almost thirty years. The fan who met her idol after Poove Unakkaga and married him, starting a family while he built an empire. That story is now being looked at in a Chengalpattu courtroom.
National news outlets say that Sangeetha Sornalingam has filed for divorce under the Special Marriage Act, saying her husband cheated on her, left her, and was mentally abusive. The claims are clear and serious. She says she found out about an affair outside of marriage in 2021, one that she says kept going even though she was told it would end.
| Name | Sangeetha Sornalingam |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Vijay (C. Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar) |
| Marriage Registered | July 10, 1998 (UK) |
| Wedding Ceremony | August 25, 1999, Chennai |
| Children | Jason Sanjay, Divya Saasha |
| Divorce Filed | February 24, 2026 |
| Court | Chengalpattu Family Court, Tamil Nadu |
| Legal Grounds | Special Marriage Act, 1954 |
| Vijay Profession | Actor, Founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) |
| Reference | https://www.ndtv.com |
| Reference | https://indianexpress.com |
The shock may have more to do with the timing than with the legal language. Fans have called Vijay “Thalapathy” for a long time, but now he’s more than just a movie star. He started the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and got into politics with a calm mind. As this happens, it feels like personal and political stories are colliding in real time.
Their marriage started out like a movie script. Sangeetha, a Sri Lankan Tamil who grew up in the UK, flew to Chennai in the late 1990s to meet Vijay after he became famous. People in the industry still remember the quiet Hindu ceremony in Egmore in 1999. There were jasmine garlands, film stars filling the hall, and flashes from early digital cameras. Over the years, she mostly stayed away from red carpets, choosing to stay out of the spotlight while he went from romantic hero to action star.
It’s funny that privacy is now impossible.
According to reports, the petition talks about emotional neglect and long-term mental distress. It talks about efforts to make things right between 2021 and 2025. People say that the marriage “only survives on paper.” This kind of language has weight, implying that the choice was not made on the spur of the moment but after careful thought.
In Chennai’s Neelankarai neighborhood, where Vijay’s home has long been a fortress and a place for fans to visit, the mood changed overnight. Fans came together, as they always do, some with party flags and others with phones. But the way people talked was different. Less about movies coming out. More about being loyal.
Tamil movies have always made it hard to tell the difference between a character on screen and a good person in real life. Vijay’s roles as a protector, social crusader, and good son have helped him build a carefully crafted image. It’s hard not to see how much that picture helps him with his political goals. Voters often judge leaders based on how stable their families are, whether it’s fair or not.
But cultural trends are still changing. Divorce doesn’t have the same negative connotation as it used to, especially among younger voters in cities. People think that Gen Z supporters, a lot of whom found out about Vijay through streaming instead of going to the movies, might be able to separate their personal lives from their public lives. It’s still not clear if older, more traditional groups will do the same.
In the meantime, speculation fills the space left by silence. Vijay and Sangeetha have not spoken directly to the media. That restraint seems planned, maybe even suggested. In high-profile legal or political disputes, every word can be used as evidence.
There is also the issue of money and alimony, which are said to be based on Vijay’s income and status. He has a lot of money, which he made by making hit movies and getting endorsements for decades. Political opponents are likely to keep a close eye on things and shape stories in ways that help their plans.
It’s hard to miss the irony. Vijay is trying to be an alternative voice in state politics by speaking out against established parties and calling for reform. At the same time, his personal life is making headlines across the country. It could be that the scrutiny will get worse instead of better.
But history teaches us different things. Tamil Nadu politics has seen bigger scandals that were dealt with by charismatic leaders. People’s memories can be picky. Some analysts think the storm could pass if Vijay keeps talking about discipline and focus. Some people aren’t so sure.
People should also pay attention to Sangeetha’s journey outside of the world of celebrities. She didn’t do many interviews for years and didn’t even show up to audio launches very often. She was known to the public as a wife and mother. A detailed petition shows that you are serious. People think that this move, whether people like it or not, is the result of a long period of stress.
It’s hard not to think about the price of public life when you see this happen. Fame makes everything bigger—success, failure, and silence. Politics makes it even worse.
The case is moving through family court without much noise for now. Hearings will follow the rules. Legal arguments will be made in private, keeping details out of the public eye as much as possible. But outside, people won’t stop guessing.
