Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema

Tamil cinema

Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...

. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai

Aasai

Aasai is a 1995 Tamil film directed by Vasanth and produced by Mani Ratnam The film featured Ajith Kumar and Suvalakshmi, making her debut, in the leading roles with Prakash Raj in a pivotal role. The film has camera work by Jeeva and a popular soundtrack by Deva...

(1995). A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with Kadhal Kottai

Kadhal Kottai

Kadhal Kottai is a 1996 Tamil film directed by Agathiyan, in which Ajith Kumar and Devayani play lead roles, apart from Heera Rajgopal, Thalaivasal Vijay, and Karan who played important roles....

(1996) and Kadhal Mannan

Kadhal Mannan

Kaadhal Mannan is a 1998 Tamil romantic film directed by Saran, which features Ajith Kumar and Maanu in the lead roles. The film also saw prominent music composer M. S. Viswanathan make his debut in a supporting role, whilst Vivek, Karan and Girish Karnad also played other roles...

(1998) being the most notable. He later forayed into method acting, as seen in Vaali

Vaali

Vaali is a 1999 Tamil thriller film written and directed by S. J. Suryah. The film stars Ajith Kumar in a dual role with Simran appearing in another leading role. The supporting cast of the film include Jyothika in her debut venture, Livingston and Vivek. The film's music is composed by the music...

(1999), Mugavaree (2000), Kandukondain Kandukondain

Kandukondain Kandukondain

Kandukondain Kandukondain is a 2000 Tamil musical and romantic film based on Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility. Directed and co-written by Rajiv Menon, the film features an ensemble cast of Ajith Kumar, Mammootty, Tabu, Aishwarya Rai and Abbas in the lead roles...

(2000) and Citizen

Citizen (film)

Citizen is a 2001 Tamil action film directed by Sharavanan Subbaiya and produced by S. S. Chakravarthy. The film features Ajith Kumar in the lead role as a social activist with Vasundhara Das, Meena and Nagma playing supporting roles. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Deva, whilst...

(2001) before establishing himself as an action hero with popular films including Amarkalam

Amarkalam

Amarkalam is a 1999 Tamil action film directed by Saran and produced by Venkateswaralayam. The film featured Ajith Kumar and Shalini in the lead roles with Raghuvaran, Raadhika and Nassar in other pivotal roles...

(1999), Dheena

Dheena

Dheena is a 2001 Indian Tamil film starring Ajith Kumar, Suresh Gopi and Laila in lead roles. It marks the directorial debut of A. R. Murugadoss. Ajith plays the title role of Dheena, while Suresh Gopi enacts the role of Ajith's older brother...

(2001), Villain

Villain (2002 film)

Villain is a 2002 Tamil film directed by K.S. Ravikumar and produced by S. S. Chakravarthy. The film stars Ajith Kumar in a dual role while Meena and Kiran play female leads. Sujatha, Fesi Vijayan, Karunaas and Ramesh Khanna appear in other significant roles, while Vidyasagar composed the score...

(2002), Attagasam

Attagasam

Attahasam is a 2004 Tamil film directed by Saran featuring Ajith Kumar in dual lead roles with Pooja playing the female lead. Sujatha, Karunas and Ramesh Khanna play pivotal roles in the film, while the score and soundtrack are composed by Bharathwaj....

(2004), Varalaru

Varalaru

Varalaru is a monthly web magazine dedicated to South Indian History. With more than , this magazine strives to bring lesser known facts about various temples of South India which are rich in inscriptions and sculptures....

(2006), Billa

Billa (2007 film)

Billa is a 2007 Tamil gangster-thriller film directed by Vishnuvardhan. Based on the 1980 Tamil film of the same name and the 2006 Hindi film, Don: The Chase Begins Again, it was adapted by the director, who rewrote portions of the film from the original...

(2007) and Mankatha

Mankatha

Mankatha is a 2011 Tamil action thriller film written and directed by Venkat Prabhu. It features Ajith Kumar in the lead role, starring in his 50th film, along with an ensemble cast including Arjun, Trisha Krishnan, Vaibhav Reddy, Lakshmi Rai, Andrea Jeremiah, Premji Amaren and Anjali...

(2011).

He has won three Filmfare Best Actor Awards in Tamil, all for films which showcased him in multiple roles.