Thiru C. Joseph Vijay began acting as a child and moved into lead roles in the early 1990s. After an uneven start, films such as Senthoorapandi, Rasigan, and especially Poove Unakkaga helped him connect with a mass audience and gave him his first major wave of popularity.
His rise continued because he kept widening his appeal. Romantic dramas including Kadhalukku Mariyadhai and Thulladha Manamum Thullum strengthened his image with family audiences, while later action films such as Ghilli, Thirupaachi, and Pokkiri reshaped him into a major commercial star.
What made that success last was adaptability. Wikipedia's career summary shows Vijay repeatedly moving with audience taste, from romance to action and then to large-scale event films like Thuppakki, Kaththi, Mersal, Master, and Leo. That consistency, combined with a strong fan following and multiple high-grossing releases, is why he remains one of the most commercially successful names in Tamil cinema.
Over time, that reach has made Vijay feel bigger than cinema for many admirers. His mass appeal, emotional bond with fans, and growing political image have led some supporters to see shades of MGR in the scale of his public connection.