Actor-turned-politician Vijay, who also serves as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, travelled to the United Kingdom to support fellow Tamil star Ajith Kumar at the Silverstone Circuit. Vijay was invited as the official guest to wave the ceremonial green flag at the race, where Ajith competed in the Michelin Le Mans Cup in the LMP3 Pro/Am category with his racing team.While the sporting event itself attracted attention, it was the reunion between the two Tamil cinema superstars that became the biggest talking point. Vijay ran towards Ajith and pulled him into a warm, long hug, creating a memorable moment for their fans. The interaction also brought back memories of the decades-long rivalry between their respective fan bases and the journey of the two stars since their rise to fame in the 1990s.
Vijay and Ajith share a special moment at Silverstone
The sight of Vijay and Ajith embracing at Silverstone quickly became a talking point across social media. For an industry that has witnessed comparisons between the two actors for decades, their friendly reunion offered a striking contrast to the intense fan wars that have surrounded them over the years. The two stars have maintained their own individual careers and identities, while their fans have often treated their professional journeys as a competition. Their Silverstone meeting, therefore, carried significance beyond the racing event.
How the Vijay-Ajith fan rivalry began
Vijay and Ajith rose to prominence around the same period in the 1990s and gradually established themselves as two of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars. As their popularity grew, their films were frequently compared, particularly when their releases arrived around the same festive periods.One notable clash came during Pongal 2001, when Ajith’s Dheena and Vijay’s Friends released on the same day. Such clashes contributed to the perception that the two actors were competing for the same space at the box office.Over time, their fan communities developed their own identities. Ajith fans came to be popularly referred to as Aamais, while Vijay fans were known as Anils. Comparisons extended beyond box-office figures to opening-day numbers, posters, teaser views, social media trends and other measures of popularity.
The ‘Puthiya Geethai’ controversy
The history of the rivalry also includes moments that became controversial among fans. One such instance involved Vijay’s 2003 film Puthiya Geethai.A dialogue in a fight sequence was widely interpreted by sections of the audience as a reference to Ajith. Director K.P. Jagan recently revisited the controversy while speaking with Cinema Vikatan and revealed that Vijay had initially been reluctant to deliver the line.According to Jagan, he had insisted that the dialogue be included and later acknowledged that decision as a mistake. The episode subsequently became one of the frequently discussed moments in the history of the perceived Vijay-Ajith rivalry.
When the fan rivalry turned ugly
While the rivalry largely played out through comparisons and online debates, there have also been instances when fan clashes escalated.In 2025, during the theatrical release of Ajith’s Good Bad Ugly, a physical altercation reportedly broke out at Sathya Theatre in Palakkad. Reports said that alleged Vijay supporters had gathered at the theatre and chanted slogans associated with his political party, following which a confrontation broke out. The incident drew criticism online, with many calling for an end to toxic fan behaviour.Another widely discussed episode occurred in 2019, when #RIPVijay reportedly trended amid fan wars. Vijay supporters responded with #LongLiveVijay. The episode was widely criticised and came to represent one of the more extreme examples of the rivalry between sections of the two fan bases.
Ajith addresses rumours of rivalry with Vijay
Ajith has also addressed the perception that there is animosity between him and Vijay. In a 2025 conversation with Chanakyaa, the actor dismissed the idea that the two stars share a personal rivalry.“Some are making things up and creating a misconception about Vijay and me,” Ajith said.His comments offered a clear distinction between the equation shared by the actors themselves and the rivalry that has often been fuelled by sections of their respective fan communities.
Vijay and Ajith take different paths
While both actors built massive careers in Tamil cinema, their professional journeys have increasingly moved in different directions.Vijay has stepped away from full-time acting to focus on politics and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. His transition into public life has added another dimension to his already significant public profile.Ajith, meanwhile, has increasingly pursued his passion for motorsport alongside his acting career. His participation in international racing events eventually brought him to Silverstone, making the presence of Vijay at the circuit particularly significant.
Vijay waves the green flag at Silverstone
At Silverstone, Vijay had the honour of waving the ceremonial green flag as the 44-car grid prepared for the race. Ajith was part of the field and competed in the LMP3 Pro/Am category with his racing team.The meeting attracted considerable attention from fans in the UK, with several Tamil cinema personalities also spotted at the circuit. Actress Radhika Sarathkumar shared pictures from her meeting with Ajith, while Trisha Krishnan was also seen near Ajith’s racing area.
Fans quickly reacted to the reunion on social media.
One user wrote, “Never imagined Ajith and Vijay fans would unite together.”Another commented, “Before AK Racing and VJ TVK eras, this duo witnessed peak offline and social media fan wars.”A third fan described the moment simply as “A moment for the history books!”Vijay and Ajith’s Silverstone reunionFor years, Vijay and Ajith have been viewed as two sides of one of Tamil cinema’s most enduring star conversations. Their films, fan bases and box-office journeys have repeatedly been compared, while their supporters have occasionally taken that competition too far.At Silverstone, however, the two stars offered fans a different image—one of mutual warmth and camaraderie. Vijay’s run towards Ajith and their long embrace became the defining image of the event, turning their reunion into a memorable chapter in the story of two of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars.
Vijay and Ajith’s upcoming films
On the acting front, Ajith was last seen in ‘Vidaamuyarchi’ and ‘Good Bad Ugly’, both of which featured Trisha Krishnan in the female lead role. He is next set to appear in ‘Dare Devil’. Meanwhile, Vijay’s most recent film was ‘Jana Nayagan’, as the actor continues to balance his political commitments with his cinematic legacy.