November 1, 2025

The Tamil film world was shaken by the tragic Karur stampede on September 27, 2025, where 39 young lives were lost during a rally by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by superstar and party president Vijay. Now, superstar Ajith Kumar has spoken up, sharing his honest, heartfelt thoughts with The Hollywood Reporter India. Ajith didn’t hold back, pointing out that "people today have become obsessed with gathering a crowd to show their clout." He noted that most victims were young, between 18 and 30 years old. While he didn’t directly blame Vijay, Ajith reminded everyone, “That individual alone isn’t responsible. We are all responsible, including the media.” The actor highlighted an interesting contrast: "You have a crowd that goes to watch a cricket match, but you don’t see it happening there. Why is it happening only with film personalities? These incidents project the film industry in a bad light." Ajith stressed the dedication actors pour into their work: "Yes, we want the love of the people. That’s what we work for. We work long hours on sets, hurt our body, spend sleepless nights, battle depression and stay away from family for their (fans) love. But, we don’t wish for these kind of incidents." Calling the stampede "a collective failure," Ajith boldly said, "We are responsible for this, including myself." He urged a change in how fans show their love and warned about the dangers of large gatherings. "There are other ways of expressing love. Media shouldn’t encourage things such as the first-day-first-shows (FDFS). With a country of 1.4 billion people, gathering a crowd is a no brainer." Vijay also responded to the tragedy, saying he had never experienced anything as painful as the Karur event. The actor added that if Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wanted to "take revenge," it should be aimed at him, not party members. This heartfelt conversation from Ajith Kumar is a wake-up call to fans, media, and film stars alike — to rethink how love and fame should be celebrated without putting lives at risk. The sorrow of Karur reminds us that safety must come first, above all showbiz glitz.

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Tags: Ajith Kumar, Karur stampede, Vijay, Tamil cinema, Crowd safety, Tvk Rally,