Ajith Kumar, known today as one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars, has called himself an 'accidental actor'. In one of his recent interviews, the Thunivu actor opened up about how his journey into films wasn't planned, in fact, it stemmed from necessity.
Ajith, known for his low-key lifestyle and humility despite massive stardom, said that acting wasn't a childhood dream or a long-time goal. During a conversation with India Today, he recalled, "Initially, I got an audition for a Telugu film – a language that I couldn't speak. I decided to pursue it."
This step, driven more by circumstance than ambition, marked the beginning of his acting career.
Ajith reveals how he became an actor
"My parents said, 'Ajith, nobody in the family has been in the film industry. Think about it.' I told them, 'I know I'm leaping into the dark. But, imagine people who want to become actors come to know that I had refused an offer that came to me. Imagine how angry they would be'," he further recalled.
For Ajith, not making use of an opportunity that life throws at you was, as he put it, "a sin."
Long before he was known for hits like Vaali, Vedalam, or Thunivu, Ajith was just a young man trying to get out of debt caused by a failed business. He further said during the interview, "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," he shared.
When asked if money was his only motivation, Ajith had a rather grounded response, "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?" He clarified that he wasn't handed the role but he had to audition and earn it, even though he couldn't speak the language at the time.
'I was a terrible actor'
The actor, known for being brutally honest, didn't shy away from calling himself a 'terrible actor' in his early days. "If you see my first few films, I was a terrible actor. Even in Tamil, I had other actors dub for me. I was criticised for my anglicised accent. Even till this day, mimicry artists mimic my earlier diction," he stated.
But Ajith didn't let the criticism define him. Instead, he worked hard to improve. "I worked on it. I worked on my diction, I worked on my Tamil and a lot of things. I was sincere and honest in my career. Certain things are destined. You just live the day, be honest, have strong work ethics. I didn't come to the industry wanting to be famous or seeking fame. I wanted money to pay back my debts," the 54-year-old actor added.
