Vijay-Sangeetha Divorce: When Were They Last Seen Together in Public? Watch

The last time they stood together before the cameras was in March 2020, at the grand audio launch of Master in Chennai. Amid roaring fans and flashing lights, Thalapathy Vijay and his wife Sangeetha Sornalingam posed with composed smiles. Few in the packed auditorium realized that the evening would mark their final public appearance as a couple.

In the years that followed, Sangeetha's conspicuous absence from Vijay's major milestones - from the launch events of his films to the unveiling of his political outfit, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam - sparked persistent whispers about trouble in paradise. Those whispers have now escalated into a full-fledged legal battle.

On Friday, reports confirmed that Sangeetha had formally filed for divorce at the Chengalpattu Family Court, bringing a 27-year marriage under judicial scrutiny. The petition states that the relationship has "irretrievably broken down," moving the narrative beyond speculation about a quiet separation to detailed allegations that have jolted both the film fraternity and political observers across Tamil Nadu.

Central to the filing are claims of infidelity. According to the petition, Sangeetha alleges that she became aware of Vijay's "adulterous relationship" with a prominent actress in April 2021. She contends that although the actor initially assured her the association would end, it allegedly continued, leading to emotional distress and public embarrassment. The document also refers to social media posts by the actress that appeared to chronicle outings and overseas trips with Vijay - posts that, the petition claims, were neither denied nor discouraged by him.

The filing further accuses Vijay of subjecting her to mental cruelty and neglect. Sangeetha describes what she terms "constructive desertion," alleging that he withdrew emotionally and physically from the marriage. The petition speaks of financial restrictions, verbal disdain within their matrimonial home, and an environment that left her feeling marginalized despite decades of partnership.

The unraveling of the marriage is especially poignant given its fairy-tale origins. Sangeetha, the daughter of a Sri Lankan Tamil industrialist based in the United Kingdom, first met Vijay in 1996 as an ardent fan who had travelled to Chennai to see him. Their fan-star interaction blossomed into a relationship that crossed religious and cultural lines, culminating in their wedding on August 25, 1999. Over the next two decades, Sangeetha maintained a low public profile, focusing on family life while Vijay's stature in Tamil cinema soared. The couple raised two children, Jason Sanjay and Divya Saasha, away from excessive media glare.

However, the petition indicates that attempts to resolve their differences amicably as recently as November 2025 proved unsuccessful, prompting the move toward formal separation. Sangeetha has sought permanent alimony and requested the right to continue residing in their Neelankarai home. She has also asked the court to conduct proceedings in-camera to safeguard their children's privacy.

For Vijay, who is preparing for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections under the banner of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, the personal crisis arrives at a politically sensitive moment. The Chengalpattu court has directed him to appear in person for the next hearing scheduled on April 20, 2026 - a date that may prove as significant to his public life as that final appearance in 2020.