Indian Tamil actor Thalapathy Vijay accepts Islam

Rating Justification

The iVerify Pakistan team reviewed this content and determined that it is false.

To reach this conclusion, the iVerify team conducted a keyword search to determine whether any Indian news outlets had reported on the claim.

Posts from users on various social media platforms since March 8, 2025, circulated a video in which South Indian actor Thalapathy Vijay was claimed to have accepted Islam. The video showed him in a white shalwar kameez and cap, offering prayers. However, the actor was only hosting and participating in an Iftar party for the local Muslim community in Chennai.

Vijay is one of Tamil cinema’s biggest icons, and has had a career spanning over three decades. Starting as a child artist in films, he transitioned into a leading man in 1992. Despite early criticisms about his looks, style, and personality, he eventually became one of India’s highest-paid actors with a massive fan base.

The actor announced his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, on February 2, 2024, and confirmed his exit from acting after completing two films. He emphasised that politics was not just a hobby but his deepest desire, stating that he wanted to serve the people of Tamil Nadu. His party members are set to contest in the 2026 elections.

HOW IT STARTED

On March 8, a video was shared on TikTok showing Vijay wearing a white shalwar kameez and cap and offering prayers with a caption that said, “Thalapathy Vijay accept Islam, offer prayers and recite Holy Quran.”

The video gained 850,000 views and 115,000 likes.

A similar claim was shared on X by a user who appeared to be a supporter of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazal according to his past posts. His post was seen by 270,000 people.

The same claim was shared on Facebook as can be seen here and here.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the verification of the claim due to its high virality and keen public interest in news about any celebrity converting to Islam.

A keyword search conducted using terms such as “Thalapathy Vijay”, “Muslim” and “offering prayers” to confirm whether the actor had converted led to a news report by Indian news outlet Mint, published on March 8, 2025, titled “Vijay dons skullcap, hosts Iftar during Ramazan; viral video leaves netizens divided: ‘Politics can make a person do anything.’”

Additionally, The Times of India also published a news story on March 10, 2025, titled “Thalapathy Vijay hosts Iftar party in Chennai during the holy month of Ramazan; wears skull cap while offering prayers.”

According to the reports, the actor hosted a grand Iftar gathering in Chennai on March 7 to mark the holy month of Ramazan. Dressed in traditional white attire and a skull cap, he participated in evening prayers before breaking the fast with attendees.

The event, organised by his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), took place at the YMCA grounds in Royapettah and drew a large crowd. Imams from 15 mosques across Chennai were invited, and arrangements were made to accommodate nearly 3,000 people.

None of the reports said that he had converted to Islam and neither was any other evidence found supporting the notion. His father is a Christian while his mother is a Hindu.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that Indian Tamil actor Thalapathy Vijay has accepted Islam is false.

As per many Indian media converts, he has not converted to Islam but was only seen participating in an Iftar party he hosted in Chennai. No available evidence suggests that he has become Muslim.

Evidence and References

March 8, 2025, Mint news story:
https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/vijay-dons-skullcap-hosts-iftar-during-ramzan-viral-video-leaves-netizens-divided-politics-can-make-a-person-do-any-11741398928325.html

March 10, 2025, Times of India news story:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/thalapathy-vijay-hosts-iftar-party-in-chennai-during-the-holy-month-of-ramzan-wears-skull-cap-while-offering-prayers/articleshow/118789357.cms