London: What was expected to be a public interaction between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and his supporters in London ended in disappointment on Tuesday after the event was cancelled over safety concerns raised by the Metropolitan Police.
Hundreds of fans had gathered outside The Shard, hoping to see Vijay during his UK visit. Many had reportedly been waiting for hours when they were informed that the programme would not take place.
Vijay’s team told the crowd that the event had to be cancelled because the required permission could not be obtained in view of the safety concerns.
Fans gather outside The Shard
The cancellation came as a surprise to supporters who had already made their way to the venue.
Videos and reports from the spot showed a sizeable gathering of Vijay’s fans outside The Shard. The crowd had assembled for a chance to meet or catch a glimpse of the actor turned politician.
However, the Metropolitan Police raised concerns about the gathering and its potential impact on public safety. Vijay’s team subsequently informed fans that the planned interaction could not go ahead.
There has been no reported incident involving Vijay himself. The information released so far points to crowd management, safety concerns and the lack of necessary permission as the reasons for cancelling the event.
TVK asks supporters not to gather outside hotel
After the event was called off, the IT wing of Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) also appealed to supporters not to gather outside his hotel or along his route.
The appeal referred to the London police’s request and urged fans to avoid creating another large gathering while Vijay was in the city.
For supporters who had travelled to London specifically hoping to meet him, the cancellation was understandably disappointing.
Vijay’s London visit was mainly about investment
While the cancelled fan event grabbed attention, Vijay’s UK visit was primarily focused on attracting investments to Tamil Nadu.
During the visit, the Tamil Nadu government announced investment commitments worth around rs 12,300 crore, with the projects expected to create more than 9,400 jobs in the state.
One of the biggest announcements came from Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd and its European and UK joint venture entities. The company signed an MoU with Guidance Tamil Nadu for an investment of around rs 11,000 crore over five years.
The proposed investment is aimed at setting up integrated design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly and logistics facilities in Tamil Nadu. The project is expected to create nearly 7,000 jobs.
Another significant announcement came from EY, which committed around rs 1,000 crore towards establishing a Global Capability Centre in Tamil Nadu. The facility is expected to generate more than 2,000 jobs.
UK based Wilson Power Solutions also signed an MoU involving an investment of around rs 300 crore for a manufacturing facility in Tiruvallur district. The project is expected to create approximately 400 jobs.
The Tamil Nadu delegation also held discussions with companies in technology, engineering and other sectors as part of its investment drive.
Vijay and Ajith Kumar meet at Silverstone
Vijay’s UK schedule also included a visit to the Silverstone racing circuit, where he met actor and racing driver Ajith Kumar.
The meeting attracted considerable attention in Tamil Nadu, particularly because both actors have large fan bases. It also became a subject of political discussion, with opposition parties questioning aspects of Vijay’s overseas trip.
Those political reactions, however, are separate from the London fan event being cancelled. The cancellation was attributed to the safety concerns raised by the Metropolitan Police.
Will Vijay’s London event be held again?
As of September 16, 2026, there has been no confirmed announcement that the cancelled public interaction will be rescheduled.
Vijay is expected to return to India on Wednesday after completing his UK visit.
For the supporters waiting outside The Shard, the trip ended without the much anticipated public meeting. For Vijay’s delegation, however, the UK visit also produced a series of investment announcements that the Tamil Nadu government has put forward as part of its effort to attract major business projects to the state.
The London episode is therefore likely to remain one of the most talked about moments of Vijay’s UK visit not because of what happened on stage, but because the stage never opened at all.
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