Vijay Sethupathi was born on January 16, 1978, in Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu. He graduated from the Alagappa University, Karaikudi, with a degree in Commerce. After graduating, Sethupathi worked as an accountant for a few years before pursuing a career in acting.
Sethupathi made his acting debut in the 2003 film Naan Mahaan Alla. He played a small role in the film, but his performance was noticed by critics. Sethupathi went on to appear in several small roles in films and television shows before landing his breakthrough role in the 2012 film Pizza.
