Sri Lankan Member of Parliament and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna leader Namal Rajapaksa delivered a direct and candid advisory to popular actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay, underscoring that politics constitutes a demanding full-time commitment where promises made during campaigns must be meticulously fulfilled, as the gap between rhetorical appeals and effective governance often proves challenging for newcomers.

In an exclusive interaction with India Today, Rajapaksa expressed admiration for Vijay's longstanding cinematic career, describing him as one of his personal favorite actors whose films he has followed enthusiastically over the years, while noting that the star's political plunge has sparked considerable interest even beyond India's borders, though ultimate legitimacy in politics will rest solely on tangible achievements and delivery.

Rajapaksa encouraged Vijay along with other prominent Tamil Nadu political figures to adopt a forward-looking perspective toward Sri Lanka, perceiving it as a valuable progressive ally for both Tamil Nadu and India in economic and strategic terms, rather than remaining constrained by outdated narratives rooted in past conflicts including the prolonged civil war, devastating tsunami, and recent economic turmoil.

Also Read: TVK Chief Emphasizes Hope and Direction Through Rising New Light

On Vijay's electoral highlighting of the longstanding Katchatheevu island dispute and its connection to the hardships faced by Tamil fishermen, Rajapaksa maintained that the fundamental concern revolves around unsustainable bottom trawling practices and unauthorized fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters by certain Indian boats, emphasizing that Katchatheevu remains governed by sovereign agreements between the central governments of India and Sri Lanka, rendering it inappropriate for state-level political exploitation.

The seasoned Sri Lankan politician strongly recommended that Vijay regard politics as an all-consuming vocation necessitating complete concentration, particularly when aspiring to govern a dynamic state like Tamil Nadu with its ambitious trillion-dollar economy goals, and advised committing only to feasible assurances while ensuring their execution, as the heightened public expectations fueled by celebrity status will encounter a rapid and unforgiving reality test far removed from the structured world of film scripts and screen portrayals.

Also Read: ‘Secular Social Justice Is TVK’s Ideology,’ Says Vijay at Christmas Event