An Indian superstar-turned-politician is at the centre of a massive row after 40 people died in a crush at his party's rally on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of people turned up at the campaign event held by Vijay in Karur district in Tamil Nadu state. The actor was in the middle of his speech when the crowd surged suddenly.

The tragedy has sparked a blame game, with the opposition accusing government officials of not deploying enough police personnel to control crowds.

Police officials have said that the rally's organisers, who are from Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, underestimated the anticipated crowd size and did not take enough precautions.

Who is Vijay?

With an acting career spanning decades, 51-year-old Vijay is one of the most popular actors in Tamil Nadu.

Over the years, he has worked his way up to becoming one of the most bankable stars, with even films panned by critics becoming massive box-office hits.

Born Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar to a film director father and singer mother, he acted in several films as a child.

His smooth dance moves in particular won him many fans. Over the years, he starred in many superhit action thrillers.

Why did he join politics?

There had been speculation around Vijay's political entry for years - a fan club he launched gave a creditable performance in the 2021 local elections. It’s common for film stars in India’s southern states to join politics.

But his decision to quit acting to enter full-time politics still took fans by surprise. Critics argue that despite their massive popularity, celebrity-led parties often lack grassroots experience, limiting their success.

What will happen now?

Crushes at political rallies are common in India, often leading to blame games between the organisers and authorities. A one-member commission of enquiry has been set up to investigate the cause of the crush. Meanwhile, TVK has approached the Madras High Court, seeking a federal investigation into the incident.

Vijay has been criticised for not visiting the victims of the crush yet but announced financial compensation for those affected. It remains to be seen whether this incident will affect his popularity and political ambitions.