The rivalry between Thalapathy Vijay and Ajith Kumar has been alive for decades, and it’s still as strong as ever!
A few months ago, a screening of 'Good Bad Ugly' in Kerala took a wild turn not because of the film, but due to a clash between fans of Thalapathy Vijay and Ajith Kumar. What started as fan banter quickly spiraled into chaos, grabbing headlines and going viral on social media. Now, rivalries among stars aren’t new (Rajinikanth vs Kamal Haasan is an example) but the Vijay-Ajith face-off has always felt different. It’s so dramatic it could be a blockbuster in itself. This rivalry has been simmering for decades and has shaped fan culture and redefined box office battles in Tamil cinema.
So on Vijay's birthday, let's look back at the rivalry that fired up Kollywood, and understand what the future (as Vijay quits acting to step into politics) might hold.
Tamil cinema embraced two fresh talents during the 90s. Vijay, son of director S.A. Chandrasekhar, charmed audiences with films like 'Poove Unakkaga' and others. Meanwhile, Ajith, who started with supporting roles, gained attention with 'Aasai'. To be very specific, their competition began in 1996, when Vijay’s 'Coimbatore Mappillai' and Ajith's 'Vaanmathi' were released around the same time. While both succeeded, fans quickly picked sides. By 2001, the release of Ajith’s 'Dheena' and Vijay’s 'Friends' turned this mild rivalry into a full-fledged fan war.
What began as friendly competition soon took a dark turn online. At one time, Ajith’s fans trended “RIP Joseph Vijay,” only to be met by Vijay fans with “Patient Ajith". Some clashes even turned violent in Tamil Nadu, with one fan reportedly losing their life. To avoid the spiral, Ajith stopped promoting his own films around 2011, dissolved his fan clubs, and stepped back. “I’m here to act, not to indulge in politics,” he later explained in an interview.
Despite fan chaos, both superstars have kept things courteous between themselves. Ajith speaks of a “healthy competition” but never criticizes Vijay. Vijay, on the other hand, follows suit, letting his work speak. Early in their careers, they even shared the screen with 'Rajavin Parvaiyile'. Though the film flopped, off-screen they’re often seen exchanging pleasantries. One Reddit fan summed it up perfectly: “Their fans are fighting like it’s 'Game of Thrones', but Vijay and Ajith are probably just sipping filter coffee together.”
Rare pic of @actorvijay in #Ajith’s marriage 🤗 and #Ajithkumar in #Vijay’s marriage 😍😍
— Vijay Team Online (@VijayTeamOnline) April 20, 2021
All Smiles 😍✨ pic.twitter.com/AtN617SKfx
(Credit: Vijay Team Online)
In 2014, during Pongal, Vijay’s 'Jilla' and Ajith’s 'Veeram' led to fans defacing posters and street scuffles. The 2023 showdown of 'Varisu' vs 'Thunivu' reignited the clash on social media, with memes flying and fights trending online. Yet both films still scored big at the box office, reminding everyone that this rivalry sells tickets.
This rivalry hasn’t only fueled fan wars but has also driven the industry forward. Vijay’s blockbuster hits ('Mersal', 'Leo') and Ajith’s action-packed thrillers ('Valimai') consistently made hundreds of crores at the box office, pulling investments and bigger productions. Vijay’s films often touch on social themes, while Ajith plays the intense, no‑nonsense hero. As analyst Sreedhar Pillai noted, “Their rivalry kept theatres packed.”
(Credit: Sony Music South)
Fan clubs for Vijay span cities, states, and even countries like Japan, organizing charitable events and mass screenings. Ajith’s fans, especially in Tamil Nadu, even stage bike rallies (a nod to his racing obsession). But the intensity sometimes creeps into online hate or real-world fights, and that’s why both stars have often spoken out, urging their followers to cool it.
However, the rivalry has softened recently. Vijay’s 'Leo' grossed around Rs 607 cr globally in 2023, outpacing Ajith’s 'Thunivu'. Meanwhile, Vijay launched his political journey in February 2024, officially registered later that year, and now plans to contest the 2026 state elections. Ajith, on the other hand, remains focused on films and racing, steering clear of politics altogether.
(Credit: Sony Music South)
With Vijay stepping off-screen, Tamil cinema now enters uncharted territory. As Rakesh Gowthaman of Vettri Theatres said in an interview “City multiplexes will survive, but rural single screens rely on stars like Vijay.” Moviegoers wonder if Ajith will reign supreme (as he has been pretty inconsistent in recent times) and whether younger stars like Karthi or Sivakarthikeyan will step in. Meanwhile, Vijay’s political base could shift power in Tamil Nadu. As analyst Bharath Kumar cautions, “He must show his move is about service, not power.” So will he emulate MGR and stay, or will the reel hero return to the cinema? That question remains at least until the 2026 elections.
Happy Birthday, Vijay!
