Vishal calls TN CM Vijay 'Darling': 'Word hasn't changed since Loyola college'
Synopsis
Actor Vishal's 'Darling CM' address to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay wasn't a slip — it was decades in the making. In a heartfelt social media post, Vishal revealed the two go back to their Loyola College days, and that he redirected the money meant for a ceremonial bouquet to educate three underprivileged girls in Vijay's name.
Key Takeaways
Actor Vishal addressed Tamil Nadu CM Vijay as 'Darling CM' in a social media post following a personal meeting.
Vishal said the term dates back to their shared time as students at Loyola College in Chennai .
He noted that Vijay's warmth and personality had remained unchanged despite his rise from actor to Chief Minister.
In place of the customary bouquet and shawl, Vishal used the money to fund the education of three underprivileged girl children in Tamil Nadu in CM Vijay's name .
Vishal said the 'fanboy moment' of calling the sitting CM 'darling' would always remain with him.
Actor and producer Vishal has taken to social media to explain why he addressed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay as 'Darling' CM — a term of endearment he says he has used for the Chief Minister since the two were students together at Loyola College in Chennai. The post, shared following a personal meeting with the Chief Minister, offers a rare glimpse into the long-standing bond between the two public figures.
The Post and What It Said
In his social media post addressed to CM Vijay, Vishal wrote: 'Dearest darling CM Vijay @CMOTamilnadu, The word "darling" hasn't changed which I used to call you for the last so many years since I knew you from Loyola college.' He traced the arc of their relationship — from knowing Vijay as a 'budding star' to watching him rise as a superstar who faced criticism with 'silence and success', and ultimately become the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
A Friendship Across Decades
Vishal noted that despite the change in title and responsibility, the person he met remained the same. 'Today, the posting and designation have changed but the person you are hasn't. And it was an absolute delight to meet you and felt the same warmth,' he wrote. He also placed the gesture in historical context, noting that he had used the word 'darling' with successive Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers — from Kalaignar to Jayalalitha to Stalin to Udhaya — calling it a 'fanboy moment' that would always remain with him.
A Meaningful Gesture in Place of Protocol
Vishal also highlighted a significant personal decision made during the meeting. He thanked CM Vijay for 'accepting the gesture of not accepting the mandatory bouquet and shawl', and revealed that the money saved was instead used to fund the education of three underprivileged girl children in Tamil Nadu — in the Chief Minister's name. 'They will be proud and will remember you forever,' Vishal wrote, directing the message personally to Vijay.
Closing Words
Concluding his post, Vishal extended warm wishes to the Chief Minister: 'My sincere thanks once again. All the best CM sir. Wishing you only positivity and growth and looking forward for the best of Tamil Nadu in your tenure.' The post drew attention both for its candid warmth and for the symbolic act of redirecting protocol funds toward education. It reflects a growing trend among public figures in Tamil Nadu of using high-profile meetings to spotlight social causes.
Point of View
It is effective political optics wrapped in personal warmth, and it will travel well on social media precisely because it does not look like political optics.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Vishal call Tamil Nadu CM Vijay 'Darling'?
Vishal called CM Vijay 'Darling' because he has used that term of endearment since the two were students together at Loyola College in Chennai. In his social media post, he clarified that the word reflects a long-standing personal bond, not a formal or political gesture.
What did Vishal do instead of presenting a bouquet to CM Vijay?
Vishal revealed that CM Vijay agreed to forgo the customary bouquet and shawl, and that Vishal used the money saved to fund the education of three underprivileged girl children in Tamil Nadu — in the Chief Minister's name.
Where did Vishal and CM Vijay first meet?
According to Vishal's post, the two first knew each other as students at Loyola College in Chennai. Vishal says he has addressed Vijay as 'darling' since those college days.
What did Vishal write about CM Vijay's journey?
Vishal traced Vijay's journey from a budding actor to a superstar who faced criticism with 'silence and success', and finally to the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He noted that despite the change in designation, Vijay's personal warmth had remained the same.
Who are the other Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Vishal mentioned in his post?
Vishal mentioned Kalaignar, Jayalalitha, Stalin, and Udhaya as Chief Ministers with whom he had shared a personal connection, noting that calling the sitting CM 'darling' has been a consistent thread across these relationships.
