In pics: South Indian stars who dabbled in politics

Tamil actor Vijay on Friday launched the 'Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam' political party, committing to active political involvement after fulfilling his film commitments. The actor said in the statement, "I consider it (politics) a debt of gratitude to the people of Tamil Nadu." (Photo credit: Agencies)

In 1982, J Jayalalithaa began her political journey with AIADMK led by MGR. Elected to Rajya Sabha in 1984, she faced setbacks when MGR fell ill. Despite losing party roles, she triumphed in key Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections that year. (Photo credit: Agencies)

Actor-politician Ramachandran, also known as MGR, founded the AIADMK in 1972 after leaving the DMK. He became the chief minister in 1977 and served for 10 straight years until he passed away on December 24, 1987. (Photo credit: Agencies)

Actor Rajinikanth on Saturday said he decided not to enter politics on the medical advice of senior nephrologist Rajan Ravichandran."I had announced that I will launch a political party and expectations were high. But in December 2020, the world was beginning to see a strong second wave of Covid-19. And I was on immunosuppressant drugs after a kidney transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester," he said. (File photo: Agencies)

Kamal Haasan officially launched his political party 'Makkal Needhi Maiam' in 2018. The 63-year-old award-winning actor has previously stated that his purpose of entering politics is to change the ‘status quo’ in Tamil Nadu's political scenario. His yatra, which began from Rameswaram, concluded at Madurai. (Photo credit: ANI)

Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin and the state sports minister, has been involved in several controversies since his entry into politics in 2019. Before entering politics, Udhayanidhi had a successful career in Tamil cinema as an actor and producer. (Photo credit: PTI)

NT Rama Rao, founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and served as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh for three terms. (Photo credit: Agencies)

On 14 March 2014, Pawan Kalyan established the Jana Sena Party, a political organization aligned with the ideology outlined in his book "Ism." TDP and Janasena have formed an electoral alliance to fight the ruling party in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the next assembly elections in the state. (Photo credit: PTI)

Chiranjeevi, delved into politics by founding Praja Rajyam Party in 2008. It secured 18 seats in the 2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. He later merged the party with Congress, becoming a Rajya Sabha member in 2012. Despite a Minister of State role, he withdrew from active politics after the 2014 elections. (Photo credit: ANI)

Khushbu Sundar, who switched from Congress to BJP in 2020, stated she switched parties but not her beliefs. Khushbu said that she had seriously criticised and condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP before. “But in the BJP, there is no corruption allegations,” she said. "I am more of an activist than a politician. I had to criticise the BJP because I was a spokesperson of an opposition party," she said. (Photo credit: Agencies)