Prakash Raj on Pawan Kalyan and Vijay in politics: Because of their popularity, they entered politics

Actor Prakash Raj, known for his outspoken political views, recently shared his thoughts on actors Pawan Kalyan and Vijay entering politics, questioning their "vision" and understanding of the country's issues.
During an interview on the YouTube channel Prashna, Raj discussed his long-standing relationships with both actors and their shift to politics.
Prakash Raj shared that Pawan Kalyan, who became the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh in 2024, benefited from his brother Chiranjeevi's established fan base, while Vijay gained initial recognition through his father, director SA Chandrasekhar. Despite their popularity, Raj claimed that neither actor has demonstrated a clear political vision or a deep understanding of the issues facing the country.
He also added, "Pawan came to politics a decade ago, Vijay is new to it. In the years I've known them, we have never spoken seriously about politics. They’re actors and because of their popularity, they entered politics".
"In the ten years since he (Pawan) launched his party, I haven't seen him have a vision, or an understanding of the issues people have. I don't see it in Vijay either," Raj stated. He added that while people may initially support them as alternatives to the existing system, they will eventually need to prove their capabilities.
Raj questioned Pawan Kalyan's consistency in his ideology and expressed concern about entrusting the country's fate to him. He has previously criticized Pawan Kalyan's political stances, including his statements about Sanatana Dharma. "He (Pawan Kalyan) has no vision. He is jobless...after coming to power, he left all this behind, put on makeup, and spoke about Sanatana Dharma," Raj stated as per a Gulte report.
Vijay, who plans to contest in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections through his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, also faces scrutiny from Raj, who says, "I hear dialogues when Vijay speaks, but will there be a deeper understanding in how to fight?"
Despite his reservations, Raj has worked with both Pawan Kalyan and Vijay in numerous films. He is also set to appear in their upcoming films, 'Jana Nayagan' and 'They Call Him OG', as well as other projects in Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu cinema.