For months, political and film circles in Tamil Nadu were abuzz with speculation that actress Trisha would find a prominent place in Chief Minister Vijay's political setup.
Given her perceived proximity to Vijay, many believed she could even be fielded from Tiruchirappalli East, one of the two constituencies which was vacated by Vijay.
It is known that, Vijay contested from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East and secured victories in both constituencies.
Since a candidate cannot retain two seats simultaneously, he will have to vacate one of them, triggering a by-election in that constituency, which must be held within six months. Vijay has chosen to keep Perambur and vacated Tiruchirappalli East.
However, recent developments suggest, as propagated the vacated seat is not going to Trisha. Now the reports suggest that actor cum choreographer Lawrence may contest from that seat.
Adding to the intrigue is Vijay's recent meeting with actor Parthiban. During the election campaign, Parthiban had drawn criticism for using objectionable and crude remarks against Trisha.
The actress publicly expressed her displeasure at the time, following which Parthiban issued an apology.
Against this backdrop, Vijay's cordial interaction with Parthiban has caught the attention of observers.
Many see it as a sign that the chief minister is not attaching as much political or personal significance to Trisha as some had assumed.
If Trisha expected her perceived closeness to Vijay to translate into political influence or a formal role, recent events seem to indicate otherwise. She was also not given any post or atleast party membership either.
Many within political circles reportedly view these developments as a carefully cultivated PR narrative.
Ever since TVK's election victory, Trisha's visit to Vijay's residence, her high-profile appearance at the swearing-in ceremony, and the speculation surrounding her alleged political influence have been repeatedly highlighted.
Some believe that this sustained projection created discomfort within the party and may have contributed to tensions with both Vijay and sections of the TVK leadership.
While speculation around Trisha's future in politics generated headlines, the ground reality appears far less dramatic than many had imagined.
