Vijay Chandrasekhar (born 22 June 1974), known professionally as Vijay, is an Indian actor and singer who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He is among the highest paid actors in India. He has played the lead in 66 films and the International Business Times framed him as a "consistent performer". Referred to as "Thalapathy", Vijay has a significant following internationally. He has won several awards, including a South Indian International Movie Award. Early life and family Vijay was born as Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar in a Tamil speaking family on 22 June 1974 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. His father S. A. Chandrasekhar is a Tamil film director and his mother Shoba Chandrasekhar is a playback singer and carnatic vocalist. His father is of Christian descent and his mother is Hindu. Vijay was baptised at the age of 12. Vijay had a sister, Vidhya, who died when she was two years old. Initially attending Fathima Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Kodambakkam, Vijay later joined the Balalok Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Virugambakkam and went on to pursue a degree in Visual Communications from Loyola College. While studying, at the age of 18, he asked his father if "he would launch him". Film career 1984–2003: Child actor and transition into lead roles At the age of 10, Vijay started his film career as a child actor in Vetri (1984), making his first paycheck of 500 rupees paid for by actor-and-producer P. S. Veerappa. He then performed as a child actor in films such as Kudumbam (1984), Vasantha Raagam (1986), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987) and Ithu Engal Neethi (1988). He also performed in Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985) as a co-star to Rajinikanth, who was the lead actor. Vijay started to play lead roles at the age of 18 starting with Naalaiya Theerpu (1992). Vijay then appeared in the films Sendhoorapandi, Rasigan, Deva and Coimbatore Mappillai. They were commercially successful, though not critically acclaimed. In 1996, Vijay performed in the Vikraman-directed Poove Unakkaga, which he states gave him his "initial breaks" and caused his popularity to "reach great heights". In 1997, Vijay acted in Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen which received positive response from critics, and Love Today, which was applauded by audiences. He also starred in the films Nerrukku Ner, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, Ninaithen Vandhai, Priyamudan and Thulladha Manamum Thullum which released to positive reviews and were commercially successful. He then performed in Nilaave Vaa. This