Actor Ajith Kumar faces fan criticism after seeking support for Portugal racing team

Tamil cinema actor Ajith Kumar is facing an unusual backlash from his own fan base after releasing a video asking for support for his racing team at the upcoming Michelin Le Mans Cup race in Portugal. The race is scheduled for October 9-10 at the Portimao circuit, and Ajith directly addressed his followers in the video by stating he expects all their support and loves them all. However, many fans responded in the comments section by throwing his own past words back at him, noting that he has spent years distancing himself from traditional star-fan machinery and telling them to focus on their families and careers rather than celebrity worship. Fans reminded the actor that he dissolved his official fan club years ago and avoided fan meetings, film launch events, and most star rituals. One commenter wrote that they are busy looking after their family, while another stated they have no time to spare because they are going to work. Other commenters brought up Ajith's recent reunion with actor and politician Vijay at the Silverstone race in September, where Vijay travelled from Tamil Nadu, waved the green flag to start the race, and shared a warm hug with Ajith. That public embrace unsettled a section of Ajith's core fan base after over two decades of intense fan wars between the two camps, with some fans telling Ajith to ask Vijay for support instead.

Context

Ajith Kumar has long maintained a public persona that separates his professional film and racing pursuits from the intense, organized fan culture typical of Tamil cinema. Celebrity fan clubs in the state often wield significant social influence, making an actor's active discouragement of such structures a distinct choice in the industry. His transition into competitive motorsports has increasingly brought European racing circuits into the attention of his film audience.