Vijay deplored that bribes were demanded for even issuing birth and death certificates. “In a state, if those at the top level are honest, automatically everyone else will have fear (of action). Subjects follow the path of the king,” he said, citing a proverb.

The actor, one of the highest paid in the Tamil film industry, however, said his references were “general” and not aimed at any individual or political party. He was speaking at the audio launch of Sarkar here late on Tuesday. When the anchor asked him what will be the first thing he would do if he were to become the Chief Minister, the actor said, “I will take steps for eradicating corruption.”

Sarkar is slated for Diwali release next month. Vijay’s recent movie Mersel had kicked up a row over its dialogue with political overtones like those on the Goods and Services Tax.

The 44-year-old actor said people seemed to have become used to corruption. “Corruption has spread like a virus. I don’t know if it is possible to wipe it out. It does not appear to be easy to end corruption... but it has to be eradicated.”

In June, when the first look poster of Sarkar was released, it led to a controversy as it showed Vijay smoking. PMK leader and former Union minister Anbumani Ramadoss and anti-tobacco groups had criticised the actor, saying the poster promoted smoking, forcing the producers to withdraw it. Vijay said “dharma” and “justice” will finally win but after some “delay”. In a vacuum-like situation, he said, nature would “pitchfork” a leader into the top position who will give a good government. 

After the deaths of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, there is a perception of a political vacuum in Tamil Nadu. The Congress, he said, was a “good party” during the Independence movement because it was led by Mahatma Gandhi and “it is still a good party”.

Reacting to Vijay’s remarks, Revenue Minister RB Udaya Kumar said it has become a trend with actors to criticise the government. Listing the achievements of the State’s AIADMK government, Udaya Kumar said film actors were not aware of those since they were engrossed in their own professional lives. Udaya Kumar criticised Vijay saying he could play the role of CM in cinema, but not in politics. It was not easy for anybody to become the CM. He was trying to jump into the field of politics, but he could not. His father was waiting with a net to catch him, but Vijay was scared of jumping. If he dared to jump into politics, let him do, he said.