Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who has worked predominantly in Tamil cinema. The Bollywood actor he was born on May 1, 1971, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (modern-day Telangana), India. Ajith has starred in over 61 films, and his awards include four Vijay Awards, three Cinema Express Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, and three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.
In addition to his acting career, Ajith is also a sports car racer and participated in the MRF Racing series (2010). He became a race car driver, competing in circuits around India in places such as Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi.
He is one among very few Indians to race in the International arena and in Formula championships. Based on the annual earnings of Indian celebrities, he was included in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list three times.
Early Life and Upbringing
Ajith Kumar was born on May 1, 1971, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (modern-day Telangana), India. His father, P. Subramaniam (died 2023), was born in Thanjavur with roots in Palakkad, Kerala, and his mother, Mohini, is Sindhi from Kolkata, West Bengal.
Ajith was the middle son out of three brothers, the others being Anup Kumar, an investor, and Anil Kumar, an IIT Madras graduate-turned-entrepreneur. Ajith dropped out of Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School during his tenth grade, before he had completed his higher secondary schooling.
Through a family friend who worked with the Enfield company, Ajith was able to get a job as an apprentice and spent six months training to be a mechanic.
Personal Life – Age, Zodiac Sign
| Personal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ajith Kumar Subramaniam |
| Nickname | Thala |
| Alternative Names(s) (also known as) | Ultimate Star, King of Opening |
| Date of Birth | 1 May 1971 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 52 Years |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Hometown | Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Current Address | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Education Qualification | Dropped out of Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School, Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Hobbies and Interests | Racing, photography, reading biographies, playing cricket |
| Languages Known | Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English |
| Social Media Profiles link (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
| Wikipedia Profile link | Ajith Kumar – Wikipedia |
| IMDb Profile link | Ajith Kumar – IMDb |
| Website link | N/A |
Physical Appearance – Height, Weight, Body Measurements
| Physical Stats | Information |
|---|---|
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Body Measurements (Chest – Waist – Hips) | 42-34-15 inches |
| Height in feet, inches, cm | 5’9″, 175 cm |
| Weight in kg, lbs | 80 kg, 176 lbs |
| Chest | 42 inches |
| Waist | 34 inches |
| Biceps | 15 inches |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Salt & Pepper |
| Hairstyle | Short and Spiky |
| Distinctive Features | Salt & Pepper Hair, Beard, Earring |
| Tattoos | N/A |
Family and Relationships – Girlfriend/Wife, Affairs
Ajith Kumar married Shalini, a popular actress, on April 24, 2000. The couple has two children, a daughter named Anoushka and a son named Aadvik. Ajith and Shalini met on the sets of the film “Amarkalam” in 1999, and they fell in love.
They got married the following year in a grand ceremony in Chennai. Ajith is known for being a private person and rarely talks about his personal life in public.
| Relationships Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse – Wife | Shalini Kumar (Actress) |
| Father | Parameshwar Subramaniam (died on 24 March 2023 at the age of 85) |
| Mother | Mohini Mani |
| Children | Anoushka Ajith (Daughter, b. 2008), Aadvik Ajith (Son, b. 2015) |
| Siblings | Anoop Kumar (Brother, Stockbroker), Anil Kumar (Brother) |
| Affairs – Girlfriend(s) | Shalini Kumar (Actress) |
| Significant Relationships | N/A |
Rise to Stardom
Ajith Kumar began his acting career with a small role in the 1990 Tamil romantic drama “En Veedu En Kanavar.” He established himself as a romantic hero with “Kadhal Kottai” (1996), “Aval Varuvala” (1998), and “Kaadhal Mannan” (1998), and established himself as an action hero starting with the film “Amarkalam” (1999).
Ajith’s dual portrayal of twin brothers—where one is deaf-mute—in S. J. Suryah’s “Vaali” (1999) won him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. He earned critical acclaim for his dual roles in the vigilante film “Citizen” (2001). In 2006, he starred in “Varalaru,” in which he played three different roles. It became the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2006 and earned him another Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil.
The following year he starred in two remakes— “Kireedam” (2007) and “Billa” (2007), both of which earned him critical acclaim. Ajith played a villain protagonist in “Mankatha” (2011), which became one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time. His next release, “Billa II” (2012), was Tamil cinema’s first prequel.
Ajith Kumar – Debut Film – Prema Pusthakam (1993)
Ajith Kumar – Successful Film – Valimai (2022)
Career, Awards, and Achievements
Ajith Kumar has won several awards throughout his career. He has won four Vijay Awards, three Cinema Express Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, and three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.
In addition to these, he has also won several other awards and nominations. Ajith is known for his versatility as an actor and has played a variety of roles throughout his career. He has acted in films of different genres, including romance, action, and drama.
He is also known for his philanthropic work and has been involved in several charitable activities.
| Career Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession(s) | Actor, Racer |
| Debut Film | Tamil: En Veedu En Kanavar (1990), Bollywood: Aśoka (2001) |
| Notable Roles | Deva in Vaali (1999), Shiva in Amarkalam (1999), Vinayak Mahadevan in Mankatha (2011), Vedalam in Vedalam (2015) |
| Recent Films – New Movies | Ner Konda Paarvai (2019), Valimai (2021) |
| Upcoming Films | Thala 62 (2022), Thala 63 (2023) |
| Popular Television Series | N/A |
| Awards and Achievements | Four Vijay Awards, Three Cinema Express Awards, Three Filmfare Awards South, Three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards |
| Endorsements/Brand Collaborations | Nescafe, Pothy’s, Dhathri Hair Oil, Jos Alukkas |
| Philanthropy/Charity Work | Mohini-Mani Foundation, Green Trends Unisex Hair & Style Salon, Sri Sathya Sai Trust |
| Professional Associations | Formula Maruti Indian Championships, Formula BMW Asia Championship, FIA Formula Two Championship, Formula 2 Championship |
| Training and Education | Trained as a mechanic for six months, Trained as a car racer |
| Production Company | N/A |
| Box Office Success – Hit Movies | Billa (2007), Mankatha (2011), Arrambam (2013), Vedalam (2015), Vivegam (2017), Viswasam (2019) |
| Critical Acclaim Movies | Vaali (1999), Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000), Villain (2002), Varalaru (2006), Billa (2007), Yennai Arindhaal (2015), Nerkonda Paarvai (2019) |
Assets and Finances – Net Worth
| Financial Profile | Information |
|---|---|
| Net Worth in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 300 crore, $40 million |
| Per Movie Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 25-30 crore, $3-4 million |
| Per Endorsement Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 2-3 crore, $0.3-0.4 million |
| Sponsorship Deals | Nescafe, Pothy’s, Dhathri Hair Oil, Jos Alukkas |
| Business Ventures | N/A |
| Investments | N/A |
| Real Estate Holdings | Bungalow in Chennai, Farmhouse in East Coast Road |
| Luxury Items/Properties Owned | BMW 7 Series, BMW S1000RR, BMW K1300 S, Aprilia Caponord, Ducati 848, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Yamaha FZ1, Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade |
| Cars Collection | BMW 7 Series, BMW Z4, Audi A8L, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Lamborghini Aventador |
Favorite Things, Likes and Dislikes
| Favorite Things | Information |
|---|---|
| Favorite Actor | M. G. Ramachandran, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan |
| Favorite Actress | Shalini Kumar |
| Favorite Film | N/A |
| Favorite Music Bands | N/A |
| Favorite Sport | Football, Cricket, Riding, Racing |
| Favorite Books | Biographies |
| Favorite Color | Black |
| Favorite Food | Biryani, Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken |
| Things s/he like | Racing, photography, reading biographies, playing cricket |
| Things s/he dislike | Smoking, Drinking, Gossiping |
Top 5 Best Films – Ajith Kumar
| Film Name | Year of Release | Character Played |
|---|---|---|
| Vaalee | 1999 | Deva/Siva |
| Mankatha | 2011 | Vinayak Mahadev |
| Amarkalam | 1999 | Vasu |
| Mugavari | 2000 | Sridhar |
| Billa | 2007 | Billa/David Billa |
Controversies – Ajith Kumar
- The controversy between Ajith and director Bala over a disagreement during the filming of ‘Naan Kadavul’.
- Ajith’s bold and controversial speech in front of M Karunanidhi.
- A producer accused Ajith of cheating money from him.
- Ajith was caught in a controversy for illegally confiscating the mobile phone of a PS Sarith.
- Ajith’s removal from Vigilance top post.
Interesting Facts – Ajith Kumar
- Ajith Kumar was a voracious cricket player during his schooldays.
- He joined as a supervisor at Ranka Garments when he was 18 years old.
- Ajith ventured into the textile business out of interest.
- He got an opportunity to appear as a model for a Dhothi brand through an advertisement agency.
- Ajith is the only Indian actor to have competed in Formula championships.
In conclusion, Ajith Kumar’s journey in the Indian film industry is a blend of talent, hard work, and passion. His contribution to Indian cinema, especially Tamil cinema, is immense, making him one of the most celebrated actors in the industry.
His life and career serve as an inspiration to many aspiring actors and fans alike.
