Some of his popular films include Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), Amman Kovil Kizhakale (1986), Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran (1988), Senthoora Poove (1988), Pulan Visaranai (1990), Chinna Gounder (1992), Honest Raj (1994), Thayagam (1996) and Vaanathaippola (2000).

He was also credited as "Puratchi Kalaignar" (revolutionary artist) in the film titles as he often appeared in roles as a law enforcer, vigilante, or a village head.

He is credited with bringing the association out of debt and establishing a charitable trust that paid pension to low-income members of the film industry.

After founding his own party in 2005, he served as a Member of Legislative Assembly for two terms from 2006 to 2016, representing the constituencies of Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam respectively.

[9][10] In 1978, Vijayakanth engaged in a photo shoot in Rasi Studios in Madurai with the aim of acting in films, which helped him garner attention.

[6] He was cast in a supporting role as Rajnikanth's younger brother in En Kelvikku Enna Bathil (1978) by the director P. Madhavan, for which he received an advance of ₹100 (equivalent to ₹2,700 or US$32 in 2023).

[14][15] He claimed to have lost several film opportunities during the early stages of his acting career largely due to his darker complexion.

[22] In the next few years, Vijayakanth often portrayed the character of an angry young man in films with revolutionary story lines such as Sivappu Malli (1981) and Jadhikkoru Needhi (1981).

[20] He became a popular commercial hero after his role in Sattam Oru Iruttarai (1981), directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar, with whom he collaborated in numerous films thereafter.

[25] His subsequent commercial films included Dowry Kalyanam (1983), Nooravathu Naal (1984) and Vaidhegi Kaathirunthaal (1984), which became successes.

[28][29] He went on to act in Amman Kovil Kizhakale (1986), which earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil; the film ran for 150 days in theatres.

[32][33][34] It portrayed him in a role of an aged cop and made him one of the popular actors of the time alongside Rajinikanth, and Kamal Haasan.

[36] On 21 October 1987, Vijayakanth had two theatrical releases as both Uzhavan Magan and Sattam Oru Vilayaattu, both of which were commercially successful.

[37] Uzhavan Magan also marked the first collaboration between Vijayakanth and his longtime friend Ibrahim Rowther, who produced the film.

[44] Rowther produced many of his films and played an instrumental role in Vijayakanth's rise as an actor in the early 1990s.

[45] Rowther and Vijayakanth combined for many of the films including Pulan Visaranai (1990), Captain Prabhakaran (1991), Bharathan (1992), Rajadurai (1993), Sakkarai Devan (1993), En Aasai Machan (1994), Gandhi Pirantha Mann (1995), Karuppu Nila (1995), Ulavuthurai (1998), Dharma (1998) and Simmasanam (2000).

[46] Pulan Visaranai, which was directed by R. K. Selvamani and featured R. Sarathkumar as the antagonist, became one of the most popular crime thrillers of the time.

[56] He later appeared in films such as Koyil Kaalai (1993), Ezhai Jaathi (1993), Sakkarai Devan (1993), Rajadurai (1993) and Enga Muthalali (1993).

[57][59][60] In 1994, he appeared in Sethupathi IPS, Honest Raj, Pathavi Pramanam, En Aasai Machan and Periya Marudhu.

Though the later failed at the box office, Vijayakanth was praised for his action, and the film became a unique component in Tamil pop culture.

[73] Vijayakanth collaborated with director AR Murugadoss in Ramanaa, in which he underplayed an action hero and anti-corruption crusader.

[78] In 2006, he acted in three action films, Sudesi, Perarasu and Dharmapuri, all of which failed to deliver at the box office and received negative reviews from critics.

[79] The following year, he starred in Sabari (2007) and his 150th film was Arasangam (2008), which was about a police officer who discovers and unravels the mystery behind a terrorist plot.

[80] He acted in the drama Mariyadhai (2009), in his second colloboration with director Vikraman, followed by the action film Engal Aasan (2009), in which he co-starred with Vikranth.

[89] On 14 September 2005, Vijayakanth announced the formation of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), a regional political party at Madurai.

[110][111] Over the next two years, rifts developed between Vijayakanth and then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and leader of AIADMK Jayalalithaa, which resulted in separation between the two alliance partners.

[112][113][114] For the 2014 Indian general elections, Vijayakanth entered into the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

[157] His body was kept in state at his residence in Saligramam, later at his party headquarters and at the Island Grounds for the public to pay their tributes.

[164][165] Vijayakanth was credited as "Puratchi Kalaignar" (revolutionary artist) and "Captain" in the film titles as he often appeared in roles as a law enforcer, vigilante, or a village head.

[166][167][168] In 2014, an ex-serviceman lodged a complaint against Vijayakanth at the Madras High Court for using the title "captain", arguing that the term is attached to the Indian Army, is an insult to servicemen and is illegal for common people to use it.