 Pandiyan was selling bangles in his family owned jewellery shop in Madurai, India when he was spotted by director Bharathiraja who offered him the lead role in the film "Mann Vasanai" (1983) which became a box-office hit.Following the success, Pandiyan was cast in over 75 films.Pandiyan joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in 2001.