Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in
Tamil cinemaTamil 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
AasaiAasai 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 KottaiKadhal 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 MannanKaadhal 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
VaaliVaali 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 KandukondainKandukondain 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
CitizenCitizen 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
AmarkalamAmarkalam 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),
DheenaDheena 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),
VillainVillain 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),
AttagasamAttahasam 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),
VaralaruVaralaru 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),
BillaBilla 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
MankathaMankatha 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. Ajith performs predominantly in leading roles in major studio films, genres ranging from
romantic comediesRomantic comedy films are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as that true love is able to surmount most obstacles. One dictionary definition is "a funny movie, play, or television program about a love story that ends happily"...
and
dramaDrama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
to action thrillers. In addition to his acting, Ajith, in a sabbatical, participated in the
2004 British Formula Three seasonThe 2004 British Formula Three season was the 54th British Formula Three Championship season. It commenced on April 3, and ended on October 1 after twenty-four races.-Drivers and teams:...
as a race driver for a minor outfit, and was ranked the third best motor car driver in India at his peak. Ajith remains a popular figure in the media of
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, making headlines for his relationships before his marriage to former actress
ShaliniShalini Ajith , also known simply as Shalini, is a South Indian film actress who debuted in the Malayalam movie Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku on Navodaya's banner at the age of three and continued to perform in many films as a child actor...
, his long-running media-built rivalry with actor Vijay and his controversial statements in a few occasions.
Early career
Ajith Kumar was born as the middle child in
SecunderabadSecunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment...
, a city north of Hyderabad to a Palakkad Iyer from
Keralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and a
SindhiSindhis are a Sindhi speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province Formerly of British India, now in Pakistan. Today Sindhis that live in Pakistan belong to various religious denominations including Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity...
mother, and was brought up in
ChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
,
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. Ajith began speaking Tamil only after entering films. He dropped out of
Asan Memorial Senior Secondary SchoolThe school is recognized as the first Central Board of Secondary Education school in Chennai. The school has three more educational institutions: Asan Memorial Matriculation School, Asan Memorial College and Asan Memorial State Board School...
in 1986 before completing his higher secondary. He took up work as a two wheeler auto mechanic, and got himself a driver's licence to coincide with his interests, that of car / bike racing. At 18, Ajith had to take up a job to support his career in racing. Joining as an apprentice, he rose to be a merchandiser with a garment export company, doing small-time press ads and TV commercials occasionally. He had put a lot of money into racing and would borrow tyres from his friends who used to help when the chains wore out as there was no money in racing at that time. Following an accident, several business agencies pushed him into modeling for advertisements in print media. He had to make a choice between films and racing, and as the movies were happening and generating him some money, he began concentrating on it.
Aged 20, Ajith was selected by Telugu film producers, Lakshmi Productions, to star in their film; however shooting was stalled soon after filming began, following the death of the film's director. Ajith then started his film career at the age of 21 appearing in the low budget
TeluguTelugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
film,
Prema PustagamPrema Pustakam is a 1993 Telugu film which was partly directed by Gollapudi Srinivas before his death on the set of the film; it was later finished by his father, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao...
in 1992, which remains his last direct Telugu film to date. His first Tamil film
Amaravathi, directed by then newcomer
SelvaSelva is an Indian director active in Tamil film. He often specializes in film remakes and directed a series of hits the 1990s. His first film 'Thalaivasal' launched the career of many. His noted film are Amaravathi, Karna, Pooveli, James Bond, Unnaruge Naanirunthal, Student No. 2 and Naan Avan...
, was a moderate success and his voice was rendered by fellow actor, Vikram. After the release, Ajith whilst training for an amateur motor race, suffered a fall, injuring his back and underwent three major surgeries resulting in a bed rest for one and a half years. Following the injury in 1993, Ajith played a supporting role in the
Arvind SwamyArvind Swamy is a former Indian film actor. He has acted in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi. Popular movies to his credit include Roja, Bombay, Minsaara Kanavu, Indira, Devaraagam, Alaipayuthey.- Early life :...
starrer,
PaasamalargalPaasamalargal is a 1994 Tamil film directed by Suresh Menon. The film features Arvind Swamy and Revathi in the main roles, Ajith Kumar also played a supporting role. The film released in February 1994.-Production:...
, before appearing in a supporting lead role in the family drama,
PavithraPavithra is a Tamil film directed by K. Subhash under his home banner, Dhanooja Films. The film features Raadhika in the lead role with Nassar and Ajith Kumar in supporting roles. The film's music was by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Vairamuthu, who won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics for the...
, which featured him as an ailing patient shown maternal affection from Raadhika.
Breakthrough (1995–2000)
In 1995, after a supporting role in the
VijayVijay is an Indian film actor and playback singer, who is based in the cinema of Tamil Nadu. He is the son of film producer and director S. A. Chandrasekhar. After performing uncredited roles as a child actor in films produced by his father, he made his debut in a lead role in the 1992 film...
starrer
Rajavin ParvaiyileRajavin Parvaiyile is a 1995 Tamil film directed by Janaki Soundar starring Vijay and Indraja in the lead roles, with Ajith Kumar appearing in a supporting role. The film, which featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, was released in August 1995.-Plot:...
, Ajith appeared in his first major success,
AasaiAasai 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...
. The film directed by
VasanthVasanth is an Indian film director and screenwriter, working in the Tamil film industry. Following a stint as journalist and after assisting K. Balachander, he made his directorial debut with Keladi Kanmani in 1990, which along with the trendsetting Aasai and Rhythm , are considered his finest...
and produced by
Mani RatnamMani Ratnam is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and producer. He made his directorial debut with the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi starring Anil Kapoor in 1983...
, featured him in the lead role opposite
SuvalakshmiSuvalakshmi is a Bengali actress who has acted in the female lead role in a number of Tamil films. She has also acted in a few Bengali and Malayalam films.- Filmography :- External links :...
, whose brother-in-law infatuates about her. The film became a big success and established Ajith as an upcoming actor in
the Tamil film industryTamil 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 later played the lead in
Kalloori VaasalKalloori Vaasal is a 1996 Tamil college film directed by Pavithran. The film featured Ajith Kumar and Pooja Bhatt in the lead roles with Prashanth, Devayani and Manivannan in other supporting roles...
co-starring
PrashanthPrashanth is an Indian film actor who appeared in several Tamil films, as well as a few Telugu films, Hindi and Malayalam films.The son of noted actor-director Thyagarajan, Prashanth began his career at 17 by appearing in Vaigasi Poranthachu and went on to feature in other acclaimed films...
and
Pooja BhattPooja Bhatt is an Indian film actress and model, currently devoting time to film production and direction. She is the daughter of Indian film director Mahesh Bhatt.-Early life:...
. Ajith's second blockbuster came in the form of
National AwardAn award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
winning
Kadhal KottaiKadhal 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....
, in which Ajith reunited with Agathiyan, the director of the earlier project
Vaanmathi. The film which told the tale of two people falling in unconditional love without seeing each other until the climax. The film paired him opposite Devayani, with Heera Rajgopal, who Ajith fell in love during the making of the project, playing a supporting role.
After the success of his films in 1996, the following year saw a series of five failures, the most notable being
Amitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
's Tamil production
Ullaasam with
MaheswariMaheswari is a Tamil film actress, who has appeared in Tamil films. She is probably best known for her performances in Ullasam and Karuththamma. She won the Nandi Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Nee Kosam. She is the cousin of popular actress, Sridevi. veerudu in 1997-...
, in which he was paid a salary of Rs. 2 million for the first time. Ajith returned with another successful project in
SaranSaran is a Tamil film director from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. He was once an assistant to K. Balachander. He now owns a production house called Gemini Productions.-Life and Career:...
's
Kadhal MannanKaadhal 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...
, with the "
masala filmMasala is a term given to films of Indian cinema that mix various genres in one film. Typically these films freely mix action, comedy, romance, and drama or melodrama. These films tend to be musicals that include songs filmed in picturesque locations...
" setting the foundations for an expanding fan base. Following films
Aval VaruvalaAval Varuvala is a 1998 Tamil film directed by Raajkapoor based on the successful Telugu film, Pelli. The film stars Ajith Kumar and Simranin the main roles with Babloo Prithviraj in another significant role...
and
Unnidathil Ennai KoduthenUnnidathil Ennai Koduthen is a 1998 Tamil film directed by Vikraman which stars Karthik and Roja in the lead roles, with Ajith Kumar in a guest appearance. The film also marked supporting actor Ramesh Khanna's debut as an actor, while Moulee and Madhan Bob played other supporting roles...
also became successes, with the latter featuring Ajith in a praised guest role. After a couple of average grossers in
Uyirodu UyiragaUyirodu Uyiraga is a 1998 Tamil film directed by Sushma Ahuja starring Ajith Kumar and Richa Ahuja in the main roles. The film which told the tale of a couple's struggle to deal with terminal illness, had a successful music soundtrack composed by Vidyasagar...
and
Ramesh KhannaRamesh Kanna is a Tamil film actor and acts in supporting roles and comedian roles.Ramesh Khanna was born in Coimbatore and third child to the family. Ramesh Khanna arrived in Chennai in the late 1980s to have a career as an actor...
's
ThodarumThodarum is a Tamil film directed by Ramesh Khanna featuring Ajith Kumar, Devayani and Heera in the leading roles. The supporting cast of Manivannan, Vadivelu and Gemini Ganesan also play pivotal roles in the film...
,
Sundar CSundar C. is a Tamil film director and actor. He has directed 24 films in Kollywood and debuted his acting career in 2006 with the film Thalai Nagaram. His most notable films include Ullathai Allitha, Arunachalam and Anbe Sivam and other notable films include Mettukudi, Winner, Naam Iruvar...
's romantic drama
Unnaithedi opposite
MalavikaMalavika is the stage name of Shweta Konnur , in Bangalore, an Indian actress. She started out as a model for Fair and Lovely and became an actress in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films....
became another comeback film and set the tone for a series of big successes.
S. J. SuryaahS. Justin Selvaraj is an Indian film director, writer, actor, and producer in Kollywood, the Tamil film industry. His screen name is S. J. Surya.- Film career :...
's thriller,
VaaliVaali 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...
, which portrayed him in dual roles opposite Simran, became his biggest hit til date following its release. The film told the story of a deaf and mute brother setting his eyes on his younger brother's wife, with Ajith's portrayal of the two brothers winning him his first of many awards for Filmfare's Best Actor. Furthermore Ajith's portrayal of the brothers was also praised, with critics claiming that the film was an"instant classic" with Ajith showing that he is a "talented actor". The two following supporting roles in the drama films
Anandha PoongatreAnantha Poongathe is a Tamil film directed by Raj Kapoor and starring Karthik, Ajith Kumar, Meena and Malavika in the lead roles. The film is based upon how respect can be mistaken as love by circumstances and the film subsequently opened to positive reviews, securing two state...
and
Nee Varuvai EnaNee Varuvai Ena is a 1999 Tamil language film starring Parthiban and Devayani in lead roles, with Ajith Kumar in a guest appearance. Ramesh Khanna, Vijayakumar and Sathyapriya also play important roles...
also brought Ajith plaudits for his portrayals. His final film before the new millennium was another blockbuster,
AmarkalamAmarkalam 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...
directed by Saran and featuring Shalini, whom he married shortly after the film.
Amarkalam told the story of a negelected child who grew up and fails to show feelings of love or affection, becoming a gangster in the process, with Ajith's depiction of his rogue character appreciated by critics.
His next,
Mugavaree, won him commercial and critical praise. The film revolved around the life of a struggling music composer who faces sacrifices to proceed in his career. The film featured dual endings, one with Ajith succeeding in his career, the other with Ajith dejected. Ajith's performance was yet again praised with critics from Rediff, claiming that "Ajith is the real winner", drawing an allusion with the film's script, whilst adding that "it is amazing to see how Ajith has grown as an actor. He brilliantly portrays the vulnerable and sad Sridhar". He also appeared in
A. R. RahmanAllah Rakha Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and philanthropist. Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by Time, his works are notable for integrating eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and...
's 2000 musical
Kandukondain KandukondainKandukondain 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...
directed by
Rajiv MenonRajiv Menon is an Indian cinematographer and film maker. He is known for directing critically acclaimed Tamil films like Minsaara Kanavu and Kandukondain Kandukondain.-Early Life:...
. The blockbuster featured Ajith alongside prominent actors Mammooty and
AbbasMirza Abbas Ali , known as Abbas, is an Indian film actor and model. He has appeared in Kollywood Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada films.Born in Calcutta and educated in Mumbai, he was discovered modeling in Bangalore...
and actresses
Aishwarya RaiAishwarya Rai Bachchan is an Indian film actress. She worked as a model before starting her acting career, and ultimately won the Miss World pageant in 1994...
,
TabuTabu is an Indian film actress. She has mainly acted in Hindi films, though she has also starred in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Bengali language films, as well as one American film...
and
SrividyaSrividya was a leading Indian film actress of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s in the Tamil film Industry, in addition to being a good singer. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated on Malayalam films. Her brilliant portrayals as a mother in many films were highly acclaimed....
. In a similar role to his previous film, Ajith played a struggling film director facing an oscillating relationship with Tabu, with the pair being unanimously praised for their roles. His first failure in eight films, came in the form of the military based
Unnai Kodu Ennai TharuvenUnnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven is a Tamil film produced by R. B. Choudary and directed by Kavee Kalidas. It features Ajith Kumar and Simran in the lead roles with Parthiban in a guest appearance...
co-starring Simran.
Ups and downs (2001–05)
In 2001, Ajith appeared in
DheenaDheena 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...
,
A. R. MurugadossA. R. Murugadoss is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter.-Early life:A. R. Murugadoss was born in Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu. He studied B.A. in Bishop Heber College, Trichy. In the College he had the great affinity towards Tamil films and friends...
's debut film co-starring
Laila MehdinLaila Mehdin is an Indian actress. She has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi language films. She is probably best known for her critically acclaimed and award-winning performances in the Bala-directed films Nandha and Pithamagan.-Career:She made her debut in the Telugu film...
and
Suresh GopiSuresh Gopinathan Nair , often credited as Suresh Gopi , is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Malayalam cinema; he is famous for his roles in police dramas. He is noted for his leading roles as much as his character roles...
. The film, indirectly marked the beginning of a new image of Ajith, that of an action hero that would appeal to the masses. Furthermore from the successful film, Ajith's nickname in the film,
Thala, Tamil for Leader, became a new identity for the actor amongst his fans. His next was the much-hyped thriller,
CitizenCitizen 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...
, portraying Ajith in ten different get-ups and it became an above average success at the box office, despite being labelled a disappointment from critics. A role in the family drama,
Poovellam Un VasamPoovellam Un Vasam is a 2001 Tamil film directed by Ezhil and produced by Venu Ravichandran, starring Ajith Kumar and Jyothika in leading roles. Nagesh, Sivakumar, Sayaji Shinde, Vivek also appear in supporting roles while Yukta Mookhey appeared in a solo item number...
followed opposite Jyothika and was a success commercially and critically earning a
Special Best Actor Award from the Tamil Nadu StateThe Tamil Nadu State Film Award are given by the state government as part of its annual Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Tamil films.-The list:Here is a list of the award winners and the films for which they won....
. The year ended off with an appearance in
Santosh SivanSantosh Sivan is an Indian cinematographer, film director, and producer who has worked in Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi cinema....
's Hindi project,
Asoka, in which Ajith appeared in a brief negative role alongside Shah Rukh Khan. 2002 saw Ajith appear in three films, the first two;
RedRed is a 2002 Tamil film directed by Ram Sathya and produced by S. S. Chakravarthy. The film stars Ajith Kumar and Priya Gill, while Manivannan, Salim Ghouse and Raghuvaran play pivotal roles. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Deva...
and
RajaRaja is a 2002 Tamil film directed by S. Ezhil which stars Ajith Kumar, Jyothika and Priyanka Trivedi in the lead roles. The film opened to predominantly mixed reviews and did poor business commercially.-Plot:...
being average grossers, the former further building up his image as an action hero. The third film,
VillainVillain 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...
, in which Ajith appeared in dual roles, one as a mentally ill handicap, became a blockbuster and in return earning Ajith his second Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award.
The following years, from 2003 til 2005, saw Ajith appear in a fewer amount of films due to his career in motor racing becoming more prominent. 2003 saw the release of his long-delayed
Ennai Thalatta VaruvalaEnnai Thalatta Varuvala is 2003 Tamil film directed by K. S. Ravindran and produced by P. M. Vedimuthu, who also wrote the story. The film features Ajith Kumar, Vignesh and Reshma in the lead roles, with the technical team composed primarily of debutants...
and the police-drama
AnjaneyaAnjaneya is a 2003 Tamil film directed by Maharajan featuring Ajith Kumar, Meera Jasmine in lead roles with Raghuvaran, Ramesh Khanna, and Sarala in supporting roles. The film, produced by S. S. Chakravarthy, has it's score and soundtrack composed by Mani Sharma...
, both failing commercially. His next
JanaJana is a 2004 Tamil action film directed by Shaji Kailas. The film stars Ajith Kumar in the title role with Sneha, Raghuvaran, Karunaas and Srividya playing other key roles. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Dhina, while the camera is handled by Rajeev Ravi...
with Sneha also became a big failure, with the Saran film,
AttagasamAttahasam 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....
being his only hit in the period. The film, saw Ajith portray dual roles, with a song,
Thala Deepavali penned to promote his action image.In 2005, the failure of the Linguswamy film
JiJi is a 2005 Tamil action film directed by Linguswamy and produced by S. S. Chakravarthy. The film stars Ajith Kumar and Trisha Krishnan in the lead roles, while the score and soundtrack are composed by Vidyasagar...
, despite garnering positive reviews and taking a strong opening, saw Ajith take a sabbatical from acting to re-work his image.
Success and stardom (2006–present)
During 2006, Ajith returned from his hiatus by appearing in
P. VasuP. Vasu is an Indian film director, writer, and actor who works in Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu films and a few Malayalam films as well. In a career spanning three decades, Vasu has directed over 50 films.-Personal life:...
's
ParamasivanParamasivan is a 2006 Tamil action film directed by P. Vasu and produced by S. Ramesh Babu. The film features Ajith Kumar in the lead role with Laila, Vivek, Prakash Raj and Jayaram playing other pivotal roles...
for which he had lost twenty kilograms to portray the lead role. The film enjoyed a moderate success, scoring over Vijay's
AadhiAadhi is a 2006 Tamil action film directed by Ramana and produced by S. A. Chandrasekhar and Shoba Chandrasekhar, starring their son Vijay and Trisha Krishnan in lead roles. Prakash Raj, Sai Kumar and Vivek play supporting roles. The film's score and soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar...
, which also released in the same week, at the box-office. Critics from
The HinduThe Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
stated Ajith looked "trim and taut" in the film with "only his eyes seeming to have lost some of its sparkle", following the major weight loss. Furthermore, for
Paramasivan and his two other projects in 2006, Ajith sported long hair, which was being grown for
BalaBala is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer, working in Tamil cinema. Bala is frequently credited with having "revolutionized Tamil cinema", through his realistic, dark and disturbing films that have garnered high critical acclaim...
's project,
Naan KadavulNaan Kadavul is a 2009 Indian Tamil film co-written and directed by Bala, based on the Tamil novel Yezhaam Ulagam by Jayamohan who also penned the dialogues for the film. The film stars Arya and Pooja in the lead roles...
, which Ajith eventually opted out of. Similarly his next,
AVM ProductionsAVM is the oldest and largest film production studio in India. It is currently owned by M. Saravanan and his son, M. S. Guhan. The most recent film they have produced since their opening with Nam Iruvar in 1947, is Vettaikkaaran and Leader. The filming studios are located in Vadapalani, Chennai....
's,
ThirupathiThirupathi is a 2006 Tamil action film written and directed by Perarasu and produced by AVM Productions. The film features Ajith Kumar and Sadha in the lead roles, with Riyaz Khan and Arun Pandian appearing in other pivotal roles...
directed by
PerarasuPerarasu is a Tamil film director. He has also been credited as an actor, music director, singer and lyricist in some of his ventures. He has mentioned that all his movies will be named after cities in Tamil Nadu, India. He is from Nattarasankottai, near Sivaganga in Tamil...
performed above average business at the box-office, despite garnering poor reviews, with Rediff critics citing that the film is "anything but sensible" but that Ajith "salvages the situation with a spirited performance". Ajith summed up a successful comeback by the release of his long-delayed film,
VaralaruVaralaru 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....
which went on to become his biggest success til date. The
K. S. RavikumarK. S. Ravikumar is an Indian film director and actor, primarily working in Tamil cinema. He has directed numerous films ranging from comedy and drama to action thrillers. His film Dasavathaaram went on to gross $16 million worldwide in the first four weeks and eventually became one of the...
film co-starring
AsinAsin Thottumkal , known mononymously as Asin, is an Indian film actress, model and stage performer who acts primarily in Bollywood and Kollywood....
, portrayed Ajith in three roles, including that of a classical dancer, with his portrayals being critically praised. Moreover, the film fetched Ajith his third Filmfare Best Actor Award, on its way to becoming a blockbuster. Ajith's first release in 2007,
Aalwar#"Solli Tharava" - Sadhana Sargam, Muhamad Salamad#"Pidikkum" - Madhushree#"Anbulla Kadhali" - Kunal, Kushbu#"Pallandu" - Unnikrishnan, Senthildas#"Mayile Mayile" - Srikanth Deva, Senthildas, Roshini, Suruthipriya, Arjun Thamas, Sujavitha...
became a debacle at the box-office, with his previous film still continuing to run in theatres even after
Aalwar had stopped its brief theatrical run.
KireedamKireedam is a 2007 Tamil film directed by A. L. Vijay, who made his directorial debut with the film. The film was a reworked version of Sibi Malayil's 1989 Malayalam classic film, Kireedam starring Mohanlal, with Na. Muthukumar assisting with writing the dialogues...
, a remake of the 1989 National Award winning
Malayalam filmThe Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...
of the same name was released to positive reviews, with the film also becoming a moderate success. During the shoot of the film, Ajith developed a further spinal injury, a recurrence of his problem earlier in his career.
Ajith then starred in
BillaBilla 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...
, a remake of the 1980 Rajinikanth starrer
of the same nameBilla is a 1980 Tamil film produced by K.Balaji and directed by R.Krishnamurthy. The film stars Rajinikanth, Suresh Balaje, Thengai Srinivasan, Manorama, Sripriya, Reena Roy and Major Sundarrajan...
, which became a blockbuster. The
VishnuvardhanVishnuvardhan Kulasekaran, often credited simply as Vishnuvardhan, is an Indian film director. A one-time associate of Santosh Sivan he made his directorial debut in 2003 with Kurumbu, which did not fare well at the box office...
directorial fetched critical praise for Ajith, becoming a trend-setter for stylish art direction and cinematography in India.
Billa, yet again, featured Ajith in dual roles one of a notorious don whilst the other played an innocent person who had to act as the don, following the former's death. After
Billa, Ajith appeared in the film
Ayngaran InternationalAyngaran is a film distribution and production company of Tamil films, based in the United Kingdom. The company has distributed various Indian-produced Tamil films in Europe and North America. It is also responsible for the production of Tamil films into home media, such as VHS, DVD, and blu-ray...
production
AeganAegan is a 2008 Tamil action and comedy film directed and co-written by Raju Sundaram and produced by Ayngaran International based on the 2004 Shahrukh Khan starrer Main Hoon Na...
, directed by the choreographer turned director
Raju SundaramRaju Sundaram is a Kollywood cine artiste who acts, directs, and choreographs for films. He is an eldest son of dance master Mugur Sundar, and elder brother to Prabhu Deva and Nagendra Prasad.-Birth:...
. The film, a remake of the 2004
HindiStandard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
comedy
Main Hoon NaMain Hoon Na is a Bollywood masala film written and directed by Farah Khan. It was the first film of Khan production company Red Chillies Entertainment. It was released on 30 April 2004 and went on to become a box-office success...
, only managed to do average business at the box office. Following a year's worth of production, Ajith's latest release,
Aasal released in February 2010, taking a grand opening at the box office. The film, which also featured Ajith in dual roles, saw Ajith credited as a screenwriter along with his role of being a don neglected by his brothers in the quest for their father's will. After a second foray into motor racing, Ajith signed up to star in a film directed by
Venkat PrabhuVenkat Kumar Gangai Amaren , better known by his stage name Venkat Prabhu is an Indian filmmaker, who has worked as an actor, director and playback singer in the Tamil film industry...
, titled
MankathaMankatha 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...
, which notably became his 50th project. The film featured him in a full-length negative role as Vinayak Mahadevan, a suspended police officer who lusts after money. His performance and his decision to portray a character with negative shades, breaking the stereotype hero image in Tamil cinema, were lauded by critics, with reviewers from
SifySify Technologies Limited is an Internet service provider established in 1998, based in Chennai, India.-Company profile:...
and
Rediff terming the film as an "out and out Ajith film" that worked "only because of Ajith". Heaping praise on the actor's performance, the former noted that he "rocks as the man with ice in his veins as the mean and diabolic cop" and that he played "the emotionless bad man, to perfection", while the latter wrote that he had "carried practically the whole film on his capable shoulders".
Mankatha brought Ajith Kumar his best ever opening in his career and went on to become a financially successful venture as well.
Racing career
Ajith is a keen race car driver and has driven in circuits around India in places such as Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi. He has also been abroad for various races including Germany and Malaysia. He drove in the 2003 Formula Asia BMW Championships. He is presently racing in the 2010 Formula 2 Championship along with two other Indians,
Armaan EbrahimArmaan Ebrahim is a car racer from Chennai, India. He is the son of the ex-Indian F3 champion Akbar Ebrahim.-Career:Touted as the most promising racing driver in India today, Armaan Ebrahim started his career in karting and became Formula LGB Champion in 2004. He later moved to Formula BMW Asia...
and
Parthiva SureshwarenParthiva Sureshwaren is an Indian race car driver born in Chennai.-A1 Grand Prix:Sureshwaren drove in the 2006-07 A1 Grand Prix season for A1 Team India at the Australian round, replacing Narain Karthikeyan. He did so again for the 2007-08 season, replacing the injured Karthikeyan at Durban...
.
Formula BMW Asia (2003)
After a one-off race during the
Formula MarutiFormula Maruti is a single-seater, open wheel class in motorsport made and raced in India. Many of the top teams in Indian motorsports have run in the series, including Team Lakshmi Mills Superspeeds, Team JK, Team MRF, Gabriel Racing, WSRF Racing, McDowell Racing, and Team Valvoline...
Indian Championships in 2002, where he finished in fourth place, Ajith signed a contract with manager Akbar Ebrahim confirming his participation in the inaugural Formula BMW Asia Championship. Despite spinning out in the first lap of his first race, Ajith successfully completed the season by finishing seventh in the season.
Formula 2 (2010)
After a six year sabbatical, Ajith signed up for his third season of car racing by participating in the
2010 seasonThe 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship season was the second year of the FIA Formula Two Championship. The championship began on April 18 at Silverstone and concluded on September 19 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, after nine double-header rounds....
of the
FIA Formula Two Championship-Chassis:Named after both Jonathan Palmer and Patrick Head, the Williams JPH1 chassis and survival cell is of carbon fibre composite monocoque construction. The car was designed to comply with 2005 FIA F1 Safety Regulations. Head protection conforms to the latest 2009 F1 standards...
. The decision to be involved in the sport was made after Ajith's film directed by
Gautham MenonGautham Vasudev Menon is an Indian film director and producer. Mainly working in Tamil cinema, he has also directed Hindi and Telugu films which are remakes of his Tamil films...
was delayed, allowing Ajith to participate for the whole season. Prior to signing up, Ajith competed in the final round of the MRF racing series in
ChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
in February 2010, but failed to finish the race due to mechanical problems. Further trials in
SepangSepang is a town and district located in the southern part of the state of Selangor in Malaysia. Formerly a small town, Sepang grew to several recent developments...
,
Malaysia followed suit as he practised for the season's beginning in April 2010 in his Formula Renault V6 car with Eurasian Racing, shedding 11 kilograms during training.
Family
Ajith Kumar was born on 1 May 1971 to a Palakkad Iyer Iyer named P. Subramaniam and his wife Mohini, of Sindhi origin from
KolkataKolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
,
West BengalWest Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. Ajith later created the non-profit organisation "Mohini-Mani Foundation", named after his parents, in order to promote self-hygiene and civic consciousness and to help ease the problems of urban sprawl. Ajith Kumar was the middle son out of three brothers, the others being Anoop Kumar, a
stock brokerA stock broker or stockbroker is a regulated professional broker who buys and sells shares and other securities through market makers or Agency Only Firms on behalf of investors...
in
New YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Anil Kumar, an
IIT MadrasThe Indian Institute of Technology Madras is an engineering and technology school in Chennai in southern India. It is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India...
graduate working in Seattle. Moreover, Ajith had younger twin sisters, both of whom died young. Through his marriage to actress Shalini, Ajith became brother-in-law to actor,
Richard RishiRichard Rishi ; is a Tamil film actor. He has appeared in nearly a dozen films. He is the brother of actresses Shamili and Shalini who is married to Ajith Kumar.- Filmography :-References:...
, and actress
ShamiliShamili , better known as Baby Shamili, is a Indian actress, who has primarily acted as a child actor in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films...
, who appeared as his sister-in-law in
Rajiv MenonRajiv Menon is an Indian cinematographer and film maker. He is known for directing critically acclaimed Tamil films like Minsaara Kanavu and Kandukondain Kandukondain.-Early Life:...
's
Kandukondain KandukondainKandukondain 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...
.
Relationships
In 1999, during the shoot of
SaranSaran is a Tamil film director from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. He was once an assistant to K. Balachander. He now owns a production house called Gemini Productions.-Life and Career:...
's
AmarkalamAmarkalam 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...
, Ajith began to date his co-star Shalini. At that time, their involvement made him a regular subject of tabloid gossip, a role to which he was accustomed following his previous relationship. Ajith proposed to Shalini in June 1999, and following consultations with her family, she agreed. They were married in April 2000 in Chennai in a grand ceremony. As both were of different religions, Ajith being a Hindu Brahmin and Shalini being Protestant Christian, they were married together under the customs of both religions. After their marriage, Shalini retired as an actress and became a full time housewife, following the completion of two unfinished projects. On 3 January 2008, their daughter, Anoushka, was born in Chennai.
Awards and nominations
Filmfare Awards South
- Best Actor Award for 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)
- Best Actor Award for Villain
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)
- Best Actor Award for Varalaru: History of Godfather (2006)
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
- Tamil Nadu State Film Special Award for Best Actor for Poovellam Un Vasam
Poovellam Un Vasam is a 2001 Tamil film directed by Ezhil and produced by Venu Ravichandran, starring Ajith Kumar and Jyothika in leading roles. Nagesh, Sivakumar, Sayaji Shinde, Vivek also appear in supporting roles while Yukta Mookhey appeared in a solo item number...
(2001)
- Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary MGR Award (2006)
Vijay Awards
- Vijay Award for Favourite Hero
The Vijay for Favorite Hero is given by STAR Vijay as part of its annual Vijay Awards ceremony for Tamil films.-Winners and nominations:* 2006 Ajith Kumar * 2007 Rajinikanth - Sivaji**Ajith Kumar - Billa**Suriya - Vel...
(2006)
- Cinema Express Award for Best Actor - Tamil - Citizen
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)
Nominated:
- Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role
The Zee Cine Award Best Actor in a Negative Role is chosen by a jury organized by Zee Entertainment Enterprises, and the winner is announced at the ceremony.Kajol was the first woman to win this award.The winners are listed below:-...
for Asoka (2001)
Filmography
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
| 1990 |
En Veedu En Kanavar |
Schoolboy |
Un-credited role |
| 1993 |
Amaravathi |
Arjun |
|
| 1993 |
Prema Pustagam Prema Pustakam is a 1993 Telugu film which was partly directed by Gollapudi Srinivas before his death on the set of the film; it was later finished by his father, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao...
|
Siddharth |
Telugu film |
| 1994 |
Paasamalargal Paasamalargal is a 1994 Tamil film directed by Suresh Menon. The film features Arvind Swamy and Revathi in the main roles, Ajith Kumar also played a supporting role. The film released in February 1994.-Production:...
|
Kumar |
|
| 1994 |
Pavithra Pavithra is a Tamil film directed by K. Subhash under his home banner, Dhanooja Films. The film features Raadhika in the lead role with Nassar and Ajith Kumar in supporting roles. The film's music was by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Vairamuthu, who won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics for the...
|
Ashok |
|
| 1995 |
Rajavin Parvaiyile Rajavin Parvaiyile is a 1995 Tamil film directed by Janaki Soundar starring Vijay and Indraja in the lead roles, with Ajith Kumar appearing in a supporting role. The film, which featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, was released in August 1995.-Plot:...
|
Chandru |
|
| 1995 |
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...
|
Jeeva |
|
| 1996 |
Vaanmathi Vaanmathi is a 1996 Tamil language film directed by Agathiyan starring Ajith Kumar and Swathi in the lead roles. This film portrays hatred that slowly transforms to love between two young souls who are from very different financial backgrounds...
|
Krishna |
|
| 1996 |
Kalloori Vaasal Kalloori Vaasal is a 1996 Tamil college film directed by Pavithran. The film featured Ajith Kumar and Pooja Bhatt in the lead roles with Prashanth, Devayani and Manivannan in other supporting roles...
|
Vasanth |
|
| 1996 |
Minor Mappillai |
Sunil |
|
| 1996 |
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....
|
Surya |
|
| 1997 |
Nesam Nesam is a 1997 Tamil film directed K. Subhash starring Ajith Kumar and Maheswari, making her debut, in the lead roles. Goundamani, Senthil and Manivannan among others play other pivotal roles in the film, which has music composed by Deva...
|
Nathan |
|
| 1997 |
Raasi Raasi is a 1997 Tamil film directed by Murali-Abbas and produced by S. S. Chakravarthy. The film features Ajith Kumar and Rambha in the lead roles with Prakash Raj in a supporting role. The film released on 14 April 1997 to negative reviews and reception....
|
Kumar |
|
| 1997 |
Ullaasam |
Guru |
|
| 1997 |
Pagaivan Pagaivan is a 1997 Tamil film starring Sathyaraj, Ajith Kumar and Anjala Zhaveri in the leading roles. The film revolves around a kidnapping undertaken by Ajith and the actions that the victim's father take to save his daughter. The film also featured Ranjitha, Nagesh, K. S. Ravikumar and Vivek...
|
Prabhu |
|
| 1997 |
Rettai Jadai Vayasu Rettai Jadai Vayasu is a 1997 Tamil film directed by C. Sivakumar featuring Ajith Kumar and Manthra in the leading roles. Goundamani, Senthil and Ponvannan among others play other pivotal roles in the film, which has music composed by Deva...
|
Sivakumar |
|
| 1998 |
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...
|
Shiva |
|
| 1998 |
Aval Varuvala Aval Varuvala is a 1998 Tamil film directed by Raajkapoor based on the successful Telugu film, Pelli. The film stars Ajith Kumar and Simranin the main roles with Babloo Prithviraj in another significant role...
|
Jeeva |
|
| 1998 |
Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen is a 1998 Tamil film directed by Vikraman which stars Karthik and Roja in the lead roles, with Ajith Kumar in a guest appearance. The film also marked supporting actor Ramesh Khanna's debut as an actor, while Moulee and Madhan Bob played other supporting roles...
|
Sanjay |
Guest appearance |
| 1998 |
Uyirodu Uyiraga Uyirodu Uyiraga is a 1998 Tamil film directed by Sushma Ahuja starring Ajith Kumar and Richa Ahuja in the main roles. The film which told the tale of a couple's struggle to deal with terminal illness, had a successful music soundtrack composed by Vidyasagar...
|
Ajay |
|
| 1999 |
Thodarum Thodarum is a Tamil film directed by Ramesh Khanna featuring Ajith Kumar, Devayani and Heera in the leading roles. The supporting cast of Manivannan, Vadivelu and Gemini Ganesan also play pivotal roles in the film...
|
Anand |
|
| 1999 |
Unnai Thedi Unnai Thedi is a 1999 Tamil film directed by Sundar C. The film features Ajith Kumar and Malavika in the lead roles, while an ensemble supporting cast includes Karan, Vivek, Sivakumar, and Srividya...
|
Raghu |
|
| 1999 |
VaaliVaali 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...
|
Shiva,
Deva |
Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Tamil |
| 1999 |
Anantha Poongathe |
Jeeva |
|
| 1999 |
Nee Varuvai Ena Nee Varuvai Ena is a 1999 Tamil language film starring Parthiban and Devayani in lead roles, with Ajith Kumar in a guest appearance. Ramesh Khanna, Vijayakumar and Sathyapriya also play important roles...
|
Subramani |
Guest appearance |
| 1999 |
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...
|
Vasu |
|
| 2000 |
Mugavaree |
Sridhar |
|
| 2000 |
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...
|
Manohar |
|
| 2000 |
Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven is a Tamil film produced by R. B. Choudary and directed by Kavee Kalidas. It features Ajith Kumar and Simran in the lead roles with Parthiban in a guest appearance...
|
Surya |
|
| 2001 |
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...
|
Dheena |
|
| 2001 |
CitizenCitizen 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...
|
Arivanandham,
Subramani |
Cinema Express Award for Best Actor - Tamil |
| 2001 |
Poovellam Un Vasam Poovellam Un Vasam is a 2001 Tamil film directed by Ezhil and produced by Venu Ravichandran, starring Ajith Kumar and Jyothika in leading roles. Nagesh, Sivakumar, Sayaji Shinde, Vivek also appear in supporting roles while Yukta Mookhey appeared in a solo item number...
|
Chinna |
Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actor |
| 2001 |
Asoka |
Suseema |
Hindi film
Nominated—Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative RoleThe Zee Cine Award Best Actor in a Negative Role is chosen by a jury organized by Zee Entertainment Enterprises, and the winner is announced at the ceremony.Kajol was the first woman to win this award.The winners are listed below:-...
Dubbed into Tamil as Samrat Asoka |
| 2002 |
Red Red is a 2002 Tamil film directed by Ram Sathya and produced by S. S. Chakravarthy. The film stars Ajith Kumar and Priya Gill, while Manivannan, Salim Ghouse and Raghuvaran play pivotal roles. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Deva...
|
Red |
|
| 2002 |
Raja Raja is a 2002 Tamil film directed by S. Ezhil which stars Ajith Kumar, Jyothika and Priyanka Trivedi in the lead roles. The film opened to predominantly mixed reviews and did poor business commercially.-Plot:...
|
Raja |
|
| 2002 |
Villain 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...
|
Shiva,
Vishnu |
Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Tamil |
| 2003 |
Ennai Thalatta Varuvala Ennai Thalatta Varuvala is 2003 Tamil film directed by K. S. Ravindran and produced by P. M. Vedimuthu, who also wrote the story. The film features Ajith Kumar, Vignesh and Reshma in the lead roles, with the technical team composed primarily of debutants...
|
Satish |
|
| 2003 |
Anjaneya Anjaneya is a 2003 Tamil film directed by Maharajan featuring Ajith Kumar, Meera Jasmine in lead roles with Raghuvaran, Ramesh Khanna, and Sarala in supporting roles. The film, produced by S. S. Chakravarthy, has it's score and soundtrack composed by Mani Sharma...
|
Paramaguru |
|
| 2004 |
Jana Jana is a 2004 Tamil action film directed by Shaji Kailas. The film stars Ajith Kumar in the title role with Sneha, Raghuvaran, Karunaas and Srividya playing other key roles. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Dhina, while the camera is handled by Rajeev Ravi...
|
Jana |
|
| 2004 |
AttagasamAttahasam 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....
|
Guru,
Jeeva |
|
| 2005 |
Ji Ji is a 2005 Tamil action film directed by Linguswamy and produced by S. S. Chakravarthy. The film stars Ajith Kumar and Trisha Krishnan in the lead roles, while the score and soundtrack are composed by Vidyasagar...
|
Vasu |
|
| 2006 |
Paramasivan Paramasivan is a 2006 Tamil action film directed by P. Vasu and produced by S. Ramesh Babu. The film features Ajith Kumar in the lead role with Laila, Vivek, Prakash Raj and Jayaram playing other pivotal roles...
|
Paramasivan
(Subramaniya Siva) |
|
| 2006 |
ThirupathiThirupathi is a 2006 Tamil action film written and directed by Perarasu and produced by AVM Productions. The film features Ajith Kumar and Sadha in the lead roles, with Riyaz Khan and Arun Pandian appearing in other pivotal roles...
|
Thirupathi |
|
| 2006 |
Varalaru |
Shivshankar,
Vishnu,
Jeeva |
Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Tamil
Vijay Award for Favourite HeroThe Vijay for Favorite Hero is given by STAR Vijay as part of its annual Vijay Awards ceremony for Tamil films.-Winners and nominations:* 2006 Ajith Kumar * 2007 Rajinikanth - Sivaji**Ajith Kumar - Billa**Suriya - Vel...
|
| 2007 |
Aalwar#"Solli Tharava" - Sadhana Sargam, Muhamad Salamad#"Pidikkum" - Madhushree#"Anbulla Kadhali" - Kunal, Kushbu#"Pallandu" - Unnikrishnan, Senthildas#"Mayile Mayile" - Srikanth Deva, Senthildas, Roshini, Suruthipriya, Arjun Thamas, Sujavitha...
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Shiva |
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| 2007 |
KireedamKireedam is a 2007 Tamil film directed by A. L. Vijay, who made his directorial debut with the film. The film was a reworked version of Sibi Malayil's 1989 Malayalam classic film, Kireedam starring Mohanlal, with Na. Muthukumar assisting with writing the dialogues...
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Sakthivel Rajarajan |
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| 2007 |
Billa 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...
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David Billa,
Saravanavelu |
Nominated—Vijay Award for Favourite Hero The Vijay for Favorite Hero is given by STAR Vijay as part of its annual Vijay Awards ceremony for Tamil films.-Winners and nominations:* 2006 Ajith Kumar * 2007 Rajinikanth - Sivaji**Ajith Kumar - Billa**Suriya - Vel...
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| 2008 |
AeganAegan is a 2008 Tamil action and comedy film directed and co-written by Raju Sundaram and produced by Ayngaran International based on the 2004 Shahrukh Khan starrer Main Hoon Na...
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Shiva |
Nominated—Vijay Award for Favourite Hero The Vijay for Favorite Hero is given by STAR Vijay as part of its annual Vijay Awards ceremony for Tamil films.-Winners and nominations:* 2006 Ajith Kumar * 2007 Rajinikanth - Sivaji**Ajith Kumar - Billa**Suriya - Vel...
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| 2010 |
Aasal |
Shiva,
Jeevanandham |
Also screenwriter
Nominated—Vijay Award for Favourite HeroThe Vijay for Favorite Hero is given by STAR Vijay as part of its annual Vijay Awards ceremony for Tamil films.-Winners and nominations:* 2006 Ajith Kumar * 2007 Rajinikanth - Sivaji**Ajith Kumar - Billa**Suriya - Vel...
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| 2011 |
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...
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Vinayak Mahadevan |
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| 2012 |
Billa II Billa II is a forthcoming Tamil gangster-thriller film directed by Chakri Toleti. It is a prequel to the 2007 film Billa and would focus on how David, an ordinary man from the coastal regions of South Tamil Nadu, becomes Billa, a dreaded underworld don, with Ajith Kumar reprising the role of the...
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David |
Filming |
External links