✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Ajith Kumar

Ajith Kumar biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Celebrities

Ajith Kumar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 15, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1 May 1971

Age55 Years (as of 2026)

BirthplaceSecunderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

ProfessionActor, Racer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseShalini Ajith

FamilyFather - Parameshwar Subramaniam (d. 24 March 2023); Mother - Mohini Mani (d. 30 May 2026); Brothers - Anoop Kumar, Anil Kumar; Two sisters (died young); Children - Anoushka Ajith (daughter, b. 2008), Aadvik Ajith (son, b. 2015)

Ajith Kumar Biography

Ajith Kumar, widely known by his nickname Thala, is an Indian actor and professional racer from Secunderabad. With a career spanning Tamil cinema and a sid

Early life and background
Ajith Kumar was born on 1 May 1971 in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. He grew up in the same city and later attended Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School in Chennai. Identified with the zodiac sign Taurus, Ajith comes from a Hindu family and developed interests early on that would stay with him throughout life, including a passion for motorsports and photography.

Career
Ajith made his Tamil film debut in 1990 with En Veedu En Kanavar and later appeared in the Hindi film Aśoka in 2001. Over the years he has become a prominent figure in Indian cinema, balancing his acting work with a parallel career in professional racing. He has taken part in numerous racing series, including the Formula Maruti Indian Championships (2002), the Formula BMW Asia Championship (2003), and both the FIA Formula Two and Formula 2 Championships in 2010.

On screen, Ajith has been associated with high paychecks per project, and he has also served as a brand ambassador — in 2004 he was signed as the face of Nescafe in Tamil Nadu. Off-screen he has been known to cultivate interests in photography, reading biographies, and playing cricket.

Public profile
Ajith is commonly referred to by his fans as Thala. Physically, he is listed at approximately 175 cm (5'9") tall and about 80 kg (176 lbs), with brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. His listed body measurements include a 42-inch chest, a 34-inch waist, and 15-inch biceps. Favorite actors he has cited include M. G. Ramachandran, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Rajinikanth, and Kamal Haasan. He admires racer Ayrton Senna and enjoys sports such as football, cricket, riding, and racing.

Ajith has established a charitable presence through the Mohini-Mani Foundation, an organization created to promote hygiene, civic awareness, and to address issues related to urban living. He is known to be a devotee of Sai Baba.

Personal life and family
Ajith married actress Shalini on 24 April 2000. The couple have two children: a daughter, Anoushka (born 2008), and a son, Aadvik (born 2015). His father was Parameshwar Subramaniam, who died on 24 March 2023 at age 85. Ajith’s mother, Mohini Mani, passed away on 30 May 2026 due to age-related ailments. He has two brothers, Anoop Kumar, who works as a stockbroker, and Anil Kumar. Two sisters died in childhood.

Racing and recent achievements
Alongside his film work, Ajith has continued to pursue competitive racing. He participated in the Dubai 24H endurance event in January 2025 and finished third. His car collection has been noted publicly and includes high-performance vehicles such as a Porsche GT3 RS acquired in November 2024 and a McLaren Senna.

Latest updates
In 2025 Ajith was awarded the Padma Bhushan. In 2026 he experienced a family loss when his mother, Mohini Mani, died. As of 2026 he is 55 years old and remains active in both cinema and motorsports, maintaining public interest for his dual-career profile.

Public image
Ajith is widely recognized for his low-key personal life compared with his on-screen stature. Fans and the media often highlight his racing achievements alongside his filmography, and he is regularly associated with a disciplined, private persona. He has been a high-profile ambassador for consumer brands and continues to be a respected figure in Tamil cinema and the Indian motorsports community.
◈

Recent Work

Dubai 24H racing event

Participated and finished third in the endurance race (January 2025).

2025
✦

Career Highlights

  1. Tamil film debut: En Veedu En Kanavar (1990)
  2. Bollywood appearance: Aśoka (2001)
  3. Multiple professional racing entries including Formula Maruti, Formula BMW Asia, FIA Formula Two and Formula 2 (2002–2010)
  4. Brand ambassador for Nescafe (Tamil Nadu) in 2004
  5. Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2025
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ajith Kumar born?

1 May 1971

What is Ajith Kumar known for?

Actor, Racer

What is Ajith Kumar’s marital status?

Married

Who is Ajith Kumar married to?

Shalini Ajith