A social activist, V Selvakumar has filed a complaint against Vijay's film, Thupakki which is being directed by Murugadoss. The activist has said that posters show Vijay smoking and they have been displayed all over Chennai and in the print media as well. The Ministry of Health and the Government of India have banned any public displays of smoking, Selvakumar said and the posters violate this. "In regard to the above mentioned violation of the Indian Tobacco Act, I have filed a complaint on 04 May 2012 with the Commissioner of Police, requesting to take necessary action against the violators," he informs.

Recently, Shah Rukh Khan was pulled up for smoking in public and now it is Vijay's turn. The makers of the film are yet to comment on this situation.