Did Ajith Kumar hint at retiring from acting after receiving the Padma Bhushan? Here's what we know

Thalapathy Vijay recently left his fans heavy-hearted by entering politics to serve the people and hinting at retirement with his final film, Jana Nayagan, directed by H. Vinoth. Even though the actor did not respond to the retirement buzz, his decision to prioritise politics and participate in the elections left fans surprised.
Following Vijay, one of Kollywood’s leading stars, Ajith Kumar, has now sparked retirement rumours with his recent statement.
Ajith's statement about retirement
The actor recently opened up about his life and journey in an interview following his Padma Bhushan honour. Ajith was conferred the Padma Bhushan at a formal event in Delhi earlier this week. Shortly after the ceremony, he spoke to India Today, where he addressed the importance of living up to the expectations of his fans and audience.

“You never know! It’s not about me planning when to retire — I could be forced into retirement. I don’t want to take anything for granted. People complain about life. To wake up and feel alive itself is a blessing. I’m not being philosophical here. I’ve been through surgeries and injuries. I have friends and family who are cancer survivors. We understand how valuable life is — just to be alive. I want to make use of every second of my life — want to make the most of it,” he shared.
An accidental actor
Ajith also revealed that acting was never part of his long-term plan. He called himself an accidental actor. “I started working in an auto manufacturing company for about six months. I was 18 when I started racing motorcycles… Then, before I realised it, I began doing print ads and TV commercials.”

Ajith took a break from the screen and made his return in 2025 with 'Vidaamuyarchi'. However, his latest film 'Good Bad Ugly' grossed Rs 200 crore within just two weeks of its release.