THALA SUPERSTAR
1.
Ajith Kumar
Film actor
2.
Ajith Kumar is an
Indian film actor working predominantly in Tamil cinema. He has won three
Filmfare Best Actor Awards, all for films which showcased him in multiple
roles.
3.
1.
Ajith Kumar (born 1 May 1971) is an Indian film actor
working predominantly in Tamil cinema.
He has won three Filmfare Best Actor Awards, all for films
which showcased him in multiple roles. In addition to his acting, Ajith, in a
sabbatical, participated in the 2004 British Formula Three season as a Formula Two racing driver and was ranked the third
best motor car driver in India at his peak.[3][4]
2.
He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film
before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai (1995),[5]before
going on to establish himself as a romantic hero with Kadhal Kottai (1996), Aval Varuvala (1998) and Kadhal Mannan (1998) being the most notable. He was
later seen in method roles as in Vaali (1999), Mugavaree (2000), Kandukondain Kandukondain(2000) and Citizen (2001)[6] before establishing himself as an
action hero with popular films, including Amarkalam (1999), Dheena(2001), Villain (2002), Attagasam (2004), Varalaru (2006), Billa (2007), Mankatha (2011), Arrambam (2013) and Veeram (2014).
3.
Ajith remains a popular figure in the media of Tamil Nadu,
making headlines for his relationships before his marriage to former actressShalini,[6] and his controversial statements in a
few occasions.[7] His popularity and cultural influence
have been compared to that of yesteryear actor M. G. Ramachandran by several veteran journalists.[8] Ajith was listed No. 61 in Forbes India's Top 100 Celebrities for the
year 2012[9]
4.
Early career
5.
Ajith Kumar was born
to a middle-class family in Secunderabad, a city north of Hyderabad, to a Palakkad Iyer father and a Sindhi mother and was brought
up in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.[3] He dropped out of Asan Memorial
Senior Secondary School in 1986 before completing his higher secondary.[10] He took up work as a
two wheeler auto mechanic, and got himself a driver's license to coincide with
his interests, that of car and bike racing. In childhood he was fan of M. G.
Ramachnadran and Rajesh Khanna. During his teens he became fan of Kamal Hasan.
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 modelling for
advertisements in print media. He had to make a choice between films and
racing, and as the films were happening and generating him some money, he began
concentrating on it.[10] He debuted in En Veedu En Kanavar (1990) in a minor role as a school student.[11]
6.
Aged 20, Ajith was
selected by Telugu FILM productions, Lakshmi Productions, to star in their
film; however shooting was stalled soon after filming began, following the
death of the film's director.[12] Ajith then started his
film career at the age of 21 appearing in the low budget Telugu film, Prema Pustakam in 1992, which remains his last direct Telugu film to date. His
first Tamil film Amaravathi, directed by then newcomer Selva, was a moderate success and his voice was rendered by
fellow actor, Vikram.[10] 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.[12] Following the injury
in 1993, Ajith played a small role in the Arvind Swamy starrer, Paasamalargal, before appearing in a supporting lead role
in the family drama, Pavithra,
which featured him as an ailing patient shown maternal affection from Raadhika.[13]
7.
1995–1999
In 1995, after a
supporting role in the Vijay starrer Rajavin Parvaiyile, Ajith appeared in his first major success, Aasai. The film directed by Vasanth and produced by Mani Ratnam, featured him in the lead role opposite Suvalakshmi, whose brother-in-law infatuates about her. The
film became a big success and established Ajith as an upcoming actor in the Tamil film industry.[5][14] He later played the
lead in Kalloori Vaasal co-starring Prashanth and Pooja Bhatt.[10] Ajith's second
blockbuster came in the form of National Awardwinning Kadhal Kottai, in which Ajith reunited with Agathiyan, the director of the
earlier project Vaanmathi.[15] 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.[6]
8.
After the success of
his films in 1996, the following year saw a series of five failures,[12] the most notable being Amitabh Bachchan's Tamil production Ullaasam with Maheswari, in which he was paid a salary of Rs. 2 million for
the first time.[10] Ajith returned in 1998
with another successful project in Saran's Kadhal Mannan, with the "masala film" setting
the foundations for an expanding fan base.[10] He also began acting
in Vasanth's Nerukku Ner, and was later replaced by Suriya co-starring Vijay.[16] Following films Aval Varuvalaand Unnidathil Ennai
Koduthen also became successes,
with the latter featuring Ajith in a guest role. Except for Uyirodu Uyiraga which flopped, his other 3 films released in 1998 and 6 in 1999
were box-office hits. Ramesh Khanna's Thodarum, Sundar C's romantic drama Unnaithedi opposite Malavika set the tone for a series of big successes.
1999–2002
9.
S. J. Suryaah's thriller, Vaali,
which portrayed him in dual roles for the first time opposite Simran, became one of his biggest hits following its release.[12] 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.[17]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".[18] The two following
supporting roles in the drama films Anandha Poongatre and Nee Varuvai Ena also brought Ajith plaudits for his
portrayals. His final film before the new millennium was another blockbuster, Amarkalam 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.[19]
10.
His next, Mugavaree,
won him commercial and critical praise.[20] 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".[21] He also appeared in A. R. Rahman's 2000 musical Kandukondain
Kandukondain directed by Rajiv Menon. The blockbuster featured Ajith alongside
prominent actors Mammooty and Abbas and actresses Aishwarya Rai, Tabu and Srividya.[22] 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.[23][24] After giving 6
straight hits in 1999 and having had Mugavaree and Kandukondain Kandukondain in
2000 as success, Aith had a flop Unnai Kodu Ennai
Tharuven co-starring Simran.[19][25]
11.
In 2001, Ajith
appeared in 3 commercially successful Tamil films. Dheena, A. R. Murugadoss's debut film co-starring Laila Mehdin and Suresh Gopi, indirectly marked the beginning of a new image of
Ajith, that of an action hero that would appeal to the masses.[26] 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.[27] In the same year, he
was offered a role in Nandha,
which he rejected.[28] His next was the
much-hyped thriller,Citizen, 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.[29] A role in the family
drama, Poovellam Un Vasam followed opposite Jyothika and was a success commercially and critically earning a Special Best
Actor Award from the Tamil Nadu State.[30]The year ended off with an appearance in Santosh Sivan's Hindi project, Asoka, in which Ajith appeared in a brief negative
role alongside Shah Rukh Khan, which flopped.[31]2002 saw Ajith appear in three films, the first two; Red[32] and Raja[33] being box office
disappointments, the former further building up his image as an action hero.
The third film,Villain, 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.[34][35]
12.
2003–2005
The following years,
from 2003 till 2005, saw Ajith appear in fewer films due to his career in motor
racing becoming more prominent.[36] 2003 saw the release
of his long-delayedEnnai Thalatta Varuvala and the police drama Anjaneya,
both failing commercially. In that period, four blockbuster films, namely Saamy, Kaakha Kaakha and Ghajini, were turned away by the actor due to various
reasons.[28][37]
13.
His next film, Jana with Sneha, also became a big failure, with the Saran film, Attagasam,
being his only hit in the period.[38] 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 Ji, despite garnering positive reviews and
taking a strong opening, saw Ajith take a sabbatical from acting to re-work his
image.[39][40] Of the five films
released between 2003 and 2005, his only box-office hit was Attagasam.
2006–2008
14.
During 2006, Ajith
returned from his hiatus by appearing in P. Vasu's Paramasivan for which he had lost twenty kilograms to portray the lead role.[41] The film enjoyed a
moderate success, scoring over Vijay's Aadhi,
which also released in the same week, at the box-office.[42] Critics from The Hindu 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.[43] Furthermore, for Paramasivan and his two other projects in 2006, Ajith sported long hair,
which was being grown for Bala's project, Naan Kadavul, which Ajith eventually opted out of.[44] Similarly his next, AVM Productions's, Thirupathi directed by Perarasu 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".[45] Ajith summed up a
successful comeback by the release of his long-delayed film, Varalaru which went on to become his biggest success til date. The K. S. Ravikumar film co-starring Asin, portrayed Ajith in three roles, including that of a
classical dancer, with his portrayals being critically praised.[46][47] Moreover, the film
fetched Ajith his third Filmfare Best Actor Award, on its way to becoming a
blockbuster.[48] In 2007, media reports
hinted that the actor would do a project with Shankar.[49] Ajith's first release
in 2007, Aalwar 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.[50] Kireedam, a remake of the 1989 National Award winning Malayalam film of the same name was released to positive
reviews, with the film also becoming a moderate success.[51] During the shoot of
the film, Ajith developed a further spinal injury, a recurrence of his problem
earlier in his career.[52]
15.
Ajith then starred in Billa,
a remake of the 1980 Rajinikanth starrer of the same name, which became a blockbuster, the Vishnuvardhan directorial fetched critical praise for Ajith,
becoming a trend-setter for stylish art direction and cinematography in India.[53] 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 International production Aegan,
directed by the choreographer turned director Raju Sundaram. The film, a
remake of the 2004 Hindi comedy Main Hoon Na, failed at the box office.[54]
2010–present
16.
Following a year's
worth of production, Ajith's Aasal released in February 2010, taking a grand
opening at the box office. The film, which also featured Ajith in dual roles,
also failed at the box office despite its bigger expectations.[55]
17.
After a second foray
into motor racing, Ajith signed up to star in a film directed by Venkat Prabhu, titled Mankatha,
which notably became his 50th project.[56] 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,[57][58] were lauded by
critics, with reviewers from Sify and Rediff terming the film as an
"out and out Ajith film" that worked "only because of
Ajith".[59][60] 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",[59] while the latter wrote
that he had "carried practically the whole film on his capable
shoulders".[60] Mankathabrought Ajith Kumar his best ever opening in
his career and went on to become a financially successful venture as well.[57]
18.
Ajith then starred in Billa II, a prequel to his 2007 blockbuster Billa,
which released on 13 July 2012 to mixed reviews with critics praising Ajith's
screen presence and stunts, film's cinematography, pace and style while
criticizing the climax to be poor and blaming the director.[61][62][63][64][65] However it had a
wonderful opening and was declared a commercial success.[66][67][68]
19.
He has starred in Vishnuvardhan's Arrambam alongside Arya, Nayantara and the film released
on 31 October to very high positive reviews from both critics and audience.[69] The movie collected a
heavy sum of ₹1 billion (US$17 million) worldwide in just 10 days.[70] His next film post Arrambam is director Siva's Veeram, which is scheduled to release inPongal 2014.[71]
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