'Sarkar is Vijay's most political film'

'Vijay wants to use Sarkar as a stepping stone to a career in politics.'

Vijay, it is said, is the biggest star of Tamil cinema after Rajinikanth.

His last release ;Mersal made Rs 100 crores at the box office.

The actor is popular in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

And now, these states have scheduled round-the-clock shows of Sarkar.

The combination of Actor Vijay and Director A R Murugadoss is being looked on with huge anticipation, as they have made blockbusters like Kaathi and Thupakki.

"This is my third film with Vijay," Murugadoss tells Subhash K Jha. "And the one I am most nervous about because of audience expectations. We've worked hard to give them something exciting. We hope nobody goes home disappointed."

Like Rajinikanth, Vijay gives no interviews, so we have no way of knowing how he feels about Sarkar.

However a source close to Vijay reveals he is preparing to plunge into active politics.

"Sarkar is Vijay's most political film to date. It features him as a social cleanser. The same role has been played successfully by Mahesh Babu in the Telugu hit Bharat Ane Nenu and by Vijay Deverakonda in the Telugu film,Nota," says a co-actor of Vijay's.

"While these actors playing politicians have no political ambitions in real life, Vijay wants to use Sarkar as a stepping stone to a real-life career in politics," adds the co-actor.

Going by the frenzy generated at the advance booking counters for Sarkar, Vijay is definitely on the verge of a potential big hit.

The only problem, say trade experts, is the film's pricing.

Sarkar has been sold for a theatrical release at an unheard price of Rs 80 crores. Unheard of, in the South, that is.

Recovery on that budgetary level is next to impossible, even if Sarkar becomes Vijay's biggest hit.