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Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay flaunts Virat Kohli’s autographed bat, fans can’t keep calm
Ever since taking oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C Joseph Vijay has been receiving memorable gifts from admirers and well-wishers. After filmmaker Venkat Prabhu surprised him with the iconic number plate from The Greatest of All Time, the actor-turned-politician was gifted something every cricket lover would cherish — a bat autographed by Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli.
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Vijay Proudly Displays Virat Kohli’s Autographed Bat
On Friday, pictures of Vijay meeting the leadership team of MRF at the Secretariat quickly went viral online. CMD KM Mammen, Vice Chairman and MD Arun Mammen, along with MD Rahul Mammen, met the Chief Minister to discuss the company’s operations in Tamil Nadu.
During the meeting, the MRF team presented Vijay with a cricket bat signed by Virat Kohli. The Tamil Nadu CM appeared visibly delighted as he proudly posed with the bat for photographs.
Dressed in a sharp monochrome suit paired with an angavastram draped over his shoulder, Vijay’s excitement was hard to miss.
Fans online were quick to point out that the Chief Minister looked every bit like an excited cricket fan while holding the prized memorabilia.
Venkat Prabhu’s ‘Prediction’ Gift Still Has Fans Talking
Just days earlier, director Venkat Prabhu had also presented Vijay with a sentimental keepsake linked to their 2024 film The Greatest of All Time. The filmmaker framed the film’s now-famous number plate reading “TN 07 CM 2026,” which many fans believe symbolically predicted Vijay’s rise to power. The framed gift also featured a poster of the duo sharing a fist bump.
A history is made..
From a thought… to a vision… to this moment.
Happy to have met our honourable CM @TVKVijayHQ na today and present the very first manifestation of #GOAT. ❤️❤️❤️
This is only the beginning.
TN07CM2026 pic.twitter.com/VxwvFOKTo4— venkat prabhu (@vp_offl) May 18, 2026
After Vijay officially became Chief Minister, social media users flooded timelines with clips from the film and tagged Venkat Prabhu, joking that the director had foreseen the political victory long ago. Vijay was seen smiling warmly while receiving the unique memento.
From Kollywood Superstar to Political Leader
The son of filmmaker SA Chandrasekhar, Vijay entered cinema as a child artiste in the 1984 film Vetri. He later debuted as a lead actor in Naalaiya Theerpu in 1992. Though he delivered several successful films early in his career, it was the 1996 hits Coimbatore Mappillai and Poove Unakkaga that firmly established him as a leading star in Tamil cinema.
After decades of superstardom in Kollywood, Vijay formally entered politics in 2024 by launching Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Many expected him to step away from films after The GOAT, but he signed one final project with director H Vinoth titled Jana Nayagan. The film features an ensemble cast including Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol and Pooja Hegde.
Trouble Surrounding ‘Jana Nayagan’
The film reportedly faced hurdles with the CBFC after a member of the examining committee filed a complaint shortly before release. Despite approaching the courts, the makers failed to receive immediate relief, and the film has since remained stuck with the revising committee.
In another setback, an HD version of the unreleased film leaked online in April, resulting in nine arrests. With the controversy continuing, uncertainty remains over when or if Jana Nayagan will finally release.
