Ajith Kumar took up acting only to pay back debts and fund passion for racing: ‘I was terrible’

Luckily, Ajith was approached by a model coordinator and took up modelling, which helped him earn money that he used to fund his racing ambitions. “I started getting assignments and the money I made there [in modelling], I used to spend it on racing, ” he said.

However, coming from a non-film background, Ajith admitted that he was unfamiliar with the workings of the industry, and his honesty often rubbed people the wrong way. Recalling an incident, he said, “I was very naive, and I remember being asked a question by a journalist about what made me take up acting. I told the person that I had debts due to my failed business and that my idea was to do a couple of films and pay my debts. He was flabbergasted. So he asked me if I came in for the money. I told him, ‘How many people have the intention of paying back debt? So, why don’t you appreciate me agreeing to take a leap into the dark – an unknown territory?’ It wasn’t like someone casually asked me to come and act. It was an audition and I cracked it. I had to prove myself worthy of an opportunity and that too, in a language I didn’t know.”

Ajith also displayed self-awareness in admitting that he wasn’t a natural actor in the beginning, which is why he constantly worked on himself, eventually becoming one of Tamil cinema’s top stars. “I didn’t come to the industry wanting to be famous or seeking fame. I wanted money to pay back my debts. If you see my first few films, I was a terrible actor,” he said.

He also recalled how his heavy accent posed a challenge in his early years. “Even in Tamil, I had other actors dub for me for my first few films. I was criticised for my anglicised accent. Even till this day, mimicry artists mimic my earlier diction. But, I worked on it. I worked on my diction, I worked on my Tamil and a lot of things,” he said.

From being a self-admitted subpar actor to becoming one of the biggest stars in Tamil cinema, Ajith Kumar has come a long way. On Monday, he added another feather to his cap as he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by President Droupadi Murmu for his significant contributions to Indian cinema.

Ajith’s most recent release, Good Bad Ugly, opened to mixed reviews but defied expectations by becoming the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2025, minting Rs 240 crore worldwide.