Latest news with #AjithKumarRacingTeam
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ajith's friends, family tried to ‘talk sense' into him when he started racing again but father offered support: ‘The day you start earning…'
After rising through the ranks and becoming one of the biggest stars Tamil cinema has ever seen, actor Ajith Kumar has returned to where his heart truly lies: the racing tracks. In fact, he has never shied away from admitting that he had little interest in cinema to begin with. However, when financial constraints began to mount, Ajith seized a timely opportunity to enter the film industry, also recognising it as a means to fund his passion for racing. Though he has occasionally returned to the tracks over the years, he recently took a significant step by launching his own official team, Ajith Kumar Racing. The team made its mark at the 24H Dubai 2025 endurance race this January and also secured a podium finish at the renowned Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium earlier this month. However, back in the early 2000s, when Ajith decided to take a break from acting and return to racing, not everyone close to him was fully supportive. Nevertheless, his father, P Subramaniam, stood by his decision, especially since he had made a promise to his son years before. 'I remember one thing that my father told me very clearly: 'The day you start earning your bread and butter, you can do whatever you want to.' When I decided to start racing again in 2002, a lot of friends and extended family members tried to 'talk sense' into me. But my father stood up for me then, saying that he had assured me that, the day I started making my own money, I was free to do what I wanted. 'He's achieved a decent amount of success. So let him decide what he wants to do,' my father told them,' he recalled during a chat with Mashable India. Must Read | How a trip to Sri Lanka sparked backlash against Asin Thottumkal and impacted her Tamil film career: 'Involved merely in the capacity of an artiste' A post shared by Ajith Kumar Racing Team (@ajithkumarracing) A post shared by Ajith Kumar Racing Team (@ajithkumarracing) During the conversation, he also addressed his decision to back out of racing in the Dubai 24H series after a major crash. Many had, at that time, dubbed his act as a 'selfless' gesture. 'We were doing pretty well during the practice for the Dubai race. We were four drivers: Mathew, Fabian, Cameron and I. We were doing pretty well until I had a crash in the practice session two days before the race. The car was written off, unfortunately. So, we, as a team, decided it was best if I stepped back because we knew we had a chance at the podium. I didn't want to ruin it for my team,' he stated. Opening up about how he plans to juggle his acting and racing careers, Ajith revealed that he has devised a strategy to ensure that one doesn't overlap with the other. 'To make things easier and possible, I have decided not to do films during the racing season. It begins in March and goes on till either mid-September or mid-October. This gives me time to finish or put together a project between October and February-March of the next year before I start racing again.'
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Ajith recalls his parents' advice when he expressed desire to pursue ‘expensive sport' of racing: ‘You either start working or…'
Tamil star Ajith Kumar has proven by example that it's never too late to pursue your dreams. At the age of 54 and at the peak of his cinema career, Ajith has made a bold return to the world of motor racing — his true passion — and is currently making impressive strides in the field. Following his team Ajith Kumar Racing's spectacular performance at the 24H Dubai 2025 endurance race this January, they went on to secure a podium finish at the renowned Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium too. Nonetheless, Ajith's interest isn't limited to car racing, and he also once ventured into bike racing. In fact, his motorsport journey began with motorcycle racing, which was a more accessible option for him financially, as he did not come from a affluent background. While his parents couldn't provide financial support, Ajith recently revealed that they were never against his dreams. He also shared that when he decided to return to racing after finding success in cinema, his father supported him wholeheartedly. A post shared by Ajith Kumar Racing Team (@ajithkumarracing) 'I started by racing bikes because it was more affordable. I'm very grateful that I had parents who weren't opposed to my participation. But my father, very honestly, told me, 'Look, Ajith, it's a very expensive sport. I may not be able to support you. But if you find your sponsors and can find a way around it, go ahead.' Since I dropped out of school, my parents were very clear about one thing. They said, 'You either pursue education and academics to at least get a basic degree, or you start working; no wasting time.' I chose the latter; to work,' he shared during a chat with Mashable India. He also revealed that it was in 1990, when the racing scene moved from Sholavaram and the first Grand Prix was held at Irungattukottai, that he made his debut. Unlike last year, when he had no new releases, two films featuring Ajith Kumar have already hit the screens this year and that too in the first four months itself. While director Magizh Thirumeni's Vidaamuyarchi did not achieve the expected success, he managed to make a massive comeback with Adhik Ravichandran's Good Bad Ugly. Both movies featured Trisha Krishnan as the female lead.
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Padma Bhushan awardee Ajith Kumar calls wife Shalini his ‘pillar': ‘She gave up her career… stood by me during tough times'
Actor Ajith Kumar was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award on Monday by President Dropdi Murmu. Talking about the award, the Good Bad Ugly star shared that it still hasn't sunk in. 'I'm still a plain middle-class person at heart, and it feels so surreal to be here and experiencing all these emotions. I'm happy and overwhelmed,' shared the actor in an interview with India Today. AK, as fondly called by his fans, attended the award ceremony which took place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi with his wife, Shalini, and their children Anoushka and Aadvik. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ajith Kumar Racing Team (@ajithkumarracing) He added, 'At first, I was overwhelmed, but I believe moments like these inspire you – or at least reassure you – that you're on the right path and should continue doing what you've been doing all these years. I feel I'm on the right track, so I focus on my work, stick to my work ethic, and move forward.' Ajith Kumar also credited his wife, Shalini Ajith, for his success and expressed her gratitude to the universe. 'I am grateful to my family for their support. Shalini made so many sacrifices. She's been my pillar.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shalini Ajith Kumar (@shaliniajithkumar2022) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shalini Ajith Kumar (@shaliniajithkumar2022) Story continues below this ad ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO Ajith Kumar's wife Shalini was a child artist and received immense praise as a lead actor for her roles in Jagadeka Veerudu, Alai Payuthey and Kannukkul Nilavu. In 2000, she tied the knot with Ajith. Ajith also shed light on Shalini's efforts and sacrifices for his career and, revealed, 'I am not trying to sound politically correct here. I mean it in every sense. She was very popular and was loved by the people. And for her to just you know…take a backseat. There were times when my decisions were probably not the right decisions. But she still stood by me, not discouraging me, and stood by my side during the tough times.' The actor also added in his interview, 'I'm extremely grateful to the universe. Everyone who has been with me through some great, difficult times. And my fans who have given me unconditional love through good days and bad days. Things have been good, so I hope it remains this way.' The 53-year-old actor was asked whether staying grounded is his secret to success, and he shared that he is simply an actor, and it's just another job for which he gets paid. Ajith Kumar also shared that he doesn't prefer being called a 'superstar'. 'I don't believe in all these suffixes added to your name. I prefer being called Ajith, AK, or whatever. It's just another job. I'm an actor by profession, and I get paid for my work. Fame and fortune are byproducts of what you do. I love my job, and I love what I've been doing for the past 33 years. I try to keep my life as simple as I can. I avoid overthinking, don't take on too many projects at once, and focus on my other hobbies and passions,' he shared. On the work front, Ajith Kumar was last seen in Good Bad Ugly. The actor is also known for his achievements in motorsports.
Mint
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
CSK vs SRH: ‘Thala watches Thala': Good Bad Ugly star Ajith Kumar in attendance for MS Dhoni's 400th T20 match
Indian Premier League matches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai always wore a celebratory look. MS Dhoni's entry is treated like the intro scenes of Tamil movies — whistles, songs, dance moves and whatnot. Tamil Superstar Ajith Kumar, fondly called as 'Thala' by millions, is in attendance for 'Thala' Dhoni's 400th T20 match. Sivakarthikeyan, another popular star, is also in attendance for Chennai Super Kings' crunch game against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai. Ajith Kumar, the Tamil Superstar, is fondly called 'Thala' by fans. The actor was recently seen in 'Good Bad Ugly', released on April 10. He was also seen in 'Vidamuyarchi', an action thriller, released in February. Ajith Kumar and his wife Shalini, also a popular actor, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on April 24. Ajith Kumar is also an avid racer and is known for doing risky car chases in his movies. He also owns a racing team called 'Ajith Kumar Racing Team'. The team recently secured a podium finish in the Spa-Franchchamps circuit in Belgium. Sivakarthikeyan, another popular actor, is also present for the CSK-SRH match. Sivakarthikeyan recently delivered the blockbuster 'Amaran', a biopic based on Major Mukund Varadarajan. Fans are showing their love on social media platforms. Even the commentators are in awe of Ajith Kumar. Former India and CSK cricketer Murali Vijay admired Ajith Kumar's racing achievements. Adhik Ravichandran, the director of 'Good Bad Ugly' too showed his excitement. MS Dhoni became the fourth Indian to feature in 400 T20 matches. Dhoni made 6 runs off 10 balls and got out to Harshal Patel. Chennai Super Kings are at the bottom of the table with just two wins from their eight matches. They are in a must-win situation and can't afford to lose anymore. Stay updated on all the action from the IPL 2025. Check the IPL 2025 Schedule, track the latest IPL 2025 Points Table, and follow the top performers with the Orange Cap and Purple Cap. First Published: 25 Apr 2025, 09:24 PM IST
India Today
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Actors Ajith Kumar, Shalini celebrate 25 years of togetherness in cute video. Watch
Actors Ajith Kumar and Shalini Ajith are among the most adored couples in Tamil cinema. On April 24, they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in a quiet manner. Shalini shared a beautiful video on her official Instagram page, which features her and Ajith having a cute little celebration at their the video, which is now going viral, Ajith and Shalini can be seen cutting a chocolate video to celebrate the special milestone. They can also be seen nudging each other to go for a big bite of the Ajith Kumar shared the video with a series of heart and sparkle emojis. Here's the video: Ajith Kumar and Shalini fell in love with each other on the sets of 'Amarkalam'. After dating for a while, the two got married in 2000 and are now parents to two children, Anoushka and 'Mankatha' actor recently made headlines when his racing team secured second place at an international event in Belgium. This is Ajith Kumar Racing Team's third podium finish this year in the 24H and 12H international race the work front, Ajith had two big releases this year. He started 2025 with the release of 'Vidaamuyarchi', which was followed by 'Good Bad Ugly' on April 10. The Adhik Ravichandran directorial grossed over Rs 200 crore at the box office worldwide and is still going strong in Kumar is expected to take part in more racing events in the next couple of months. He is yet to announce his upcoming Reel
