Prakash Raj Questions Leadership of Pawan Kalyan and Vijay, Calls One ‘Inconsistent’, the Other ‘Visionless’

Actor Prakash Raj has never shied away from expressing his political views, both online and in interviews. In a recent conversation on the YouTube channel, he shared his thoughts on co-stars Pawan Kalyan and Vijay Thalapathy, explaining why he believes they lack the ‘vision’ needed for politics. Here’s what he had to say.

Prakash Raj on Pawan Kalyan and Vijay Thalapathy:

Speaking on the YouTube channel, actor Prakash Raj reflected on his long acquaintance with fellow actors-turned-politicians Pawan Kalyan and Vijay Thalapathy, noting that he has known both for over two decades. “People often compare Vijay Thalapathy to Pawan Kalyan. Pawan Kalyan comes from Chiranjeevi’s family and inherited a loyal fan base — he might not agree, but that’s the truth. Similarly, Vijay’s father, SA Chandrasekhar, is a respected director who made several films to establish his son’s career before stardom came his way,” Prakash Raj said.

He pointed out that while Pawan Kalyan has been active in politics for over a decade and Vijay Thalapathy is relatively new to the field, neither has ever engaged in serious political discussions with him. “They are actors who entered politics through their popularity,” he remarked.

Prakash Raj went on to criticize both for lacking a clear political vision or a strong grasp of public issues. “In the ten years since Pawan launched his party, I haven’t seen any real vision or understanding of people’s problems. I don’t see that in Vijay Thalapathy either. When someone like them steps into politics, it’s often because people are looking for an alternative — and that might win them seats. But beyond that, they need to prove themselves.”

Referring to Vijay’s speeches, Prakash Raj added, “I hear movie-style dialogues, but will there be depth in their political strategy? Pawan Kalyan is hugely popular, no doubt — but should the country’s future be placed in the hands of someone whose ideology is inconsistent?”

For those unfamiliar, Pawan Kalyan became the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 2024 after his Jana Sena Party, in alliance with the TDP and BJP, won all the seats it contested. Meanwhile, Vijay is preparing to enter electoral politics by contesting in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections under his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

Recent Work:

Prakash Raj has shared the screen with both Pawan and Vijay in several popular films over the years, including Pokkiri, Ghilli, Jalsa, and Vakeel Saab. He is also part of their upcoming projects — Jana Nayagan with Vijay and They Call Him OG with Pawan. Additionally, he will appear in the Kannada film Father, the Tamil film Miracle, and the Telugu sequel Goodachari 2.