Actor and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s marriage to Sangeetha Sornalingam has come under renewed public scrutiny following the divorce proceedings filed by his wife earlier this year. Amid the latest developments, an old interview in which Vijay spoke about how the couple got married has resurfaced, with the actor revealing that their relationship did not begin as a conventional love story. According to Vijay, his parents played a key role in choosing Sangeetha as his wife.
Vijay had previously spoken about his marriage and clarified that it was not a love marriage in the traditional sense. He said his parents chose Sangeetha for him, and the two eventually decided to marry. The revelation has attracted renewed attention as reports about difficulties in their marriage have emerged years after their wedding.
Vijay and Sangeetha tied the knot on August 25, 1999, in Chennai. Their marriage was an interfaith union, with the couple having a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony. They went on to have two children, a son born in 2000 and a daughter born in 2005.
For nearly three decades, Vijay and Sangeetha largely maintained a private family life away from the intense attention surrounding the actor’s career. However, speculation about trouble in their marriage intensified in recent years after Sangeetha was absent from several public events involving Vijay. Questions resurfaced when she was not seen at important events associated with Vijay’s political journey and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The speculation eventually turned into a legal matter in February 2026, when Sangeetha filed a divorce petition before the Family Court in Chengalpattu. In her petition, she cited irreconcilable differences and sought dissolution of the marriage. She also reportedly sought permanent alimony and permission to continue residing at the couple’s matrimonial home in Chennai.
The proceedings, however, took an unexpected turn on August 7. Sangeetha withdrew the divorce petition during a hearing conducted through video conferencing. Following her decision, the Family Court formally closed the case. The reasons for the withdrawal were presented before the court, although the development does not by itself establish whether the couple has reconciled.
The legal dispute had attracted considerable attention because Vijay is now not only one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars but also the head of TVK and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. His transition from cinema to politics has placed his personal and professional life under significantly greater public scrutiny.
The resurfaced comments about his marriage have consequently generated renewed interest in the couple’s early relationship. Vijay’s account that his parents chose Sangeetha offers a glimpse into how their marriage began, although it does not provide an explanation for the marital difficulties reported more than two decades later.
The couple’s relationship has also been notable for its longevity. Vijay and Sangeetha remained married for nearly 27 years before the divorce petition was filed. Their two children have largely stayed away from the public controversy surrounding their parents.