Ask Vijay for support: Ajith Kumar seeks fans support ahead of race, gets trolled

In an unlikely turn of events, actor-racer Ajith Kumar is facing the wrath of his fans. In a video message, he asked his fans to rally behind him ahead of his next car race in Portugal. But instead of simply cheering him on, some sections of fans denied his request, reminding him of his reconciliation with Tamil Nadu CM Vijay and also something he has said himself over the years: that they should put their families and personal lives first.The reaction also came after the much-discussed Silverstone race last month, where Ajith’s old association with Vijay came back into focus. During the same race, he also lost his cool over a fan after he approached him for a selfie.So when Ajith released a new video asking fans to support his team at the Michelin Le Mans Cup in Portugal, some were quick to point out the irony. In the clip, ahead of the October 9 and 10 race at the Portimao circuit, Ajith says, “I expect all your support. Love you all.”Watch the video here: Social media reactions on the videoThe video sure did receive plenty of encouragement, but the comments section also took a rather different turn. Some fans brought up Ajith’s earlier stance on fan clubs and his repeated emphasis on fans focusing on their families, while others dragged Vijay and the London episode back into the conversation.For those unaware, Vijay travelled to Silverstone to support Ajith, later sharing a warm hug with him at the circuit. The sight of the two together, after years of fan rivalry, was widely celebrated, but it also left some Ajith fans questioning where they stood in the actor’s changing relationship with fan culture. One comment under his latest video summed up the mood rather bluntly: "I want to see my family, brother!" Another fan wrote, "When we were interested, you said you did not want support, but now when we are looking after our family, you are asking for support?" A third read, "Sorry, Thala, no time. I am going to work. I love my family."Then came the Vijay references. “Ask your friend Vijay for support,” one person wrote, while another added, “I want to see our family too, Thala. Live and let live.”One particularly pointed response referred to the actor’s interaction with Vijay at the London race. “When you supported Vijay, I lost the respect I had for you. You do not allow us to take a selfie, but you allowed Vijay to sit on your car for a photoshoot. Tell us fairly,” the fan wrote.See some comments here:Ajith and his complicated relationship with fan cultureThe irony, of course, comes from the fact that Ajith has spent years deliberately keeping himself away from the traditional star-fan machinery.The actor dissolved his fan club years ago, saying he did not want to make a profit from his fans. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he has also largely stayed away from fan meetings, executive gatherings, film promotions and several of the rituals that come with being a major Tamil film star.His fans, for the most part, accepted that distance. In fact, it became part of the Ajith image – the actor who would rather let his films and his racing speak for him. But every now and then, those old lines come back to haunt the conversation.On the film front, Ajith will be seen next in his documentary Gladiators. With its theatrical trailer receiving a strong response from fans, Gladiators: In Pursuit of Challenges offers a closer look at the actor’s life as a racer and the passion that has kept him returning to the track.- Ends