In a free-wheeling chat with TNIE, veteran actor opens up about her career on stage and screen, struggles in life and more

Long before she became a familiar face in Malayalam cinema, Pauly Valsan had been stealing the spotlight on stage for decades. Theatre wasn’t just her livelihood; it was her lifeblood, providing an outlet for her creativity while managing the everyday chaos of home and family. Pauly thrived in characters brimming with sass, wisdom and life experience.

“I would always volunteer for the older roles, as they offered more scope for performance,” she says with a grin. Decades later, her film debut came in the Mammootty-starrer Annan Thampi (2008). Today, as she reflects on her journey of over 100 films, state awards for Ee. Ma.Yau and Ottamuri Velicham in 2018 and Saudi Vellakka in 2022, and a range of remarkable roles, it’s clear that this thespian has left an indelible impression in the world of films.

Pauly opens up about her journey, which is as dramatic and delightful as the woman herself.

At the first anniversary meet of his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu, Vijay spoke about his future.

Actor Vijay is serious about leaving films for a career in politics, and he confirmed the same at the first-anniversary meeting of his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. A Times of India report states that he confirmed he intends to quit acting after his 69th film, Jana Nayagan. (Also Read: Jana Nayagan: Decoding the connection between Vijay’s poster and the late MG Ramachandran)

Vijay about his swan song

Vijay might be one of the top actors in Kollywood at the moment, but he has no interest in making films anymore. Many actors and filmmakers hoped Vijay would continue to act after the elections, so there was confusion about whether Jana Nayagan would be his final film.

However, the actor made his stance clear at the meeting, ending speculation once and for all. He stated that his 69th film, directed by H Vinoth, will mark the end of his acting career while addressing critics who questioned the transition. He reiterated that he would like to focus on politics, committing himself to the welfare of the people instead.

Final film and political career

In February last year, Vijay formed the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, stating that he would contest in the 2026 elections. He held his first conference in October of that year at Vikravandi to speak about his political ideologies. In September, it was announced that Vijay had signed his 69th film with Vinoth and that Bengaluru-based distribution house KVN Production would be producing it. “The torchbearer of democracy… arriving soon,” they wrote, announcing the project.

Vijay’s first look from Jana Nayagan was released in January this year, and it showed him wielding a whip. Comparisons were soon drawn to the late actor-politician MG Ramachandran, also the TN Chief Minister. Jana Nayagan will also star Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Prakash Raj, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, and others. Recently, there was buzz that the film is a remake of Anil Ravipudi’s Telugu film Bhagavanth Kesari, but a confirmation is awaited.

News Credits: Hindustan Times

Actresses Tamannaah Bhatia and Kajal Aggarwal are connected to a cryptocurrency fraud investigation involving a Coimbatore firm. Authorities are questioning their roles due to their attendance at events hosted by the company, which defrauded investors across several states. Key suspects Nitish Jain and Arvind Kumar have been arrested, while others remain at large.

Actresses Tamannaah Bhatia and Kajal Aggarwal, two of South Indian cinema’s biggest stars, have been linked to an ongoing cryptocurrency fraud investigation. According to M9, the Puducherry police plan to question them regarding their association with a Coimbatore-based company accused of duping investors with false promises of high returns. The firm, which launched in 2022, allegedly scammed individuals out of several crores, leading to widespread financial losses. Tamannaah attended the company’s grand launch event, while Kajal participated in a corporate gathering where top investors were showered with luxury gifts. Additionally, the scam extended to an extravagant cruise party in Mumbai, where investors were further enticed to contribute more funds. Reports indicate that victims include at least ten individuals from Puducherry who lost Rs 2.4 crore collectively, while a retired government employee suffered a staggering loss of Rs 40 crore.

Following multiple complaints, authorities launched a large-scale probe, resulting in the arrest of two key suspects, Nitish Jain and Arvind Kumar. The fraud spanned several states, including Delhi, Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. Investigators uncovered that the scammers used fake online accounts to siphon funds, while another accused, Imran Pasha, was apprehended by Raipur police in a related case. Despite these arrests, some suspects remain at large, and efforts are ongoing to track them down.

Given Tamannaah and Kajal Agarwal’s presence at the company’s events, authorities seek to determine whether they were simply endorsing the firm or had deeper financial ties. Investigators are delving into the large-scale nature of the scam and how it managed to deceive so many investors. As the case garners nationwide attention, authorities are committed to exposing the full extent of the fraud and ensuring those responsible face justice.

News Credits: Times of India

Actress Pooja Hegde has performed a dance sequence for a song in Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Coolie. The shooting of the movie is progressing in full swing in Chennai. A grand song sequence was recently filmed, featuring Pooja Hegde dancing alongside Rajinikanth.

Previously, Tamannaah had performed a special dance number in the film Jailer, which became a huge hit, especially the song Kavalaa. Similarly, the makers of Coolie are hopeful that Pooja Hegde’s dance sequence will also receive a great response from the audience.

The film crew is working diligently to complete the shooting by March. While Rajinikanth’s portions are expected to be wrapped up soon, other sequences may extend into April.

Coolie is being produced by Sun Pictures and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film stars Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, and Shruti Haasan. The shooting locations include Visakhapatnam, Thailand, and Chennai. The cinematography is handled by Girish Gangadharan, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander.

News Credits: indiaglitz