Ajith Kumar is serious about pursuing his passion for racing, even if it means he must scale back on acting in films.
After his team finished third at the 24H Dubai 2025 endurance race last Sunday, the Tamil film star said he would sign on to films only during the non-racing season.
Ajith was asked about his film career and if he has contracts that restrict him from racing. He replied: “I don’t need to be told what to do or what not to do. So, for now, as I plan to pursue motorsports not just as a driver but as a team owner as well… until the racing season is on, I won’t be signing films.
“I’ll get back to acting probably between October and March – before the racing season commences.”
Ajith, a motorsport buff, also said that, though he has taken part in the BMW Asian Championship, British Formula 3 and European Formula 2 races, he couldn’t compete as much as he wanted to due to his film commitments.
“I was 18 when I started racing motorcycles back home, then I got busy with work,” he said. “I got into the film industry, and later, in 2002, when I was 32, I decided to get back into racing. But not in motorcycles, in four-wheelers. I raced in national championships in India before competing internationally. But I could do only a few of them due to work commitments.”
Ajith, known for starring in blockbusters such as Billa (2007) and Vedalam (2015), has two films up for release – Vidaamuyarchi and Good Bad Ugly. The former was supposed to be released on Jan 10 for Pongal but was postponed; a new release date has yet to be announced. The latter will be released in theatres on April 10.
Launched racing team
Recently, multiple videos of Ajith celebrating a third-place finish with his team in the Dubai 24H 2025 race surfaced on social media. Held annually at the Dubai Autodrome, the race features high-performance GT and touring cars competing in a gruelling 24-hour format that tests speed, strategy and endurance.
The 53-year-old actor, who launched his racing team, Ajith Kumar Racing, in September last year, raced alongside teammates Mathieu Detry, Fabian Duffieux and Cameron McLeod.
In the practice run, Ajith left fans worried when his car spun out of control and crashed into a barrier. A video shared by his team captured the dramatic moment, showing the car, a Porsche 992, spinning seven times before coming to a stop.
Clad in his racing gear, Ajith was immediately assisted by stewards and taken to an ambulance for a precautionary check-up. His manager Suresh Chandra later assured fans that the actor was “unhurt, hale and healthy”.
Despite the alarming incident, Ajith remains undeterred in continuing to forge a racing career, alongside his film commitments.
A host of film celebrities, including Kamal Haasan, R. Madhavan and Samantha Prabhu, took to social media to congratulate Ajith on his team’s podium finish.
Actor Madhavan, who was also present at the event, took to Instagram and shared a photo with Ajith along with the caption: “So so proud... what a man. The one and only Ajith Kumar.”
Superstar Rajinikanth also took to X to congratulate Ajith. He wrote: “Congratulations my dear #AjithKumar. You made it. God bless. Love you.”
Ajith’s foray into motorsport dates back to 2002 when he competed in the Formula Maruti Indian Championships, impressively securing fourth place. The following year, he showcased his racing prowess on the international stage by finishing 12th in the Formula BMW Asia Championship.
“For me, it’s all the same,” he said in Dubai. “Acting and racing are very physically and emotionally demanding jobs – most jobs are. It’s just about how you compartmentalise and prioritise.
“I hate multitasking, so I wouldn’t do that. I’m just gonna try and focus on one activity at a time.”
Later, he told Gulf News: “Sports is the ultimate leveller, offering more losses than wins and teaching grace in handling both. It brings out true character, instilling discipline and resilience.
“Whether it’s managing fame or failure, life is all about balance, and sports serves as a metaphor for navigating these ups and downs.”
