'Setting aside fan wars': 'GOAT' director thrilled by Ajith-Vijay's reunion
What's the story
Tamil cinema director Venkat Prabhu is overjoyed after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and actor Ajith Kumar met at the Le Mans Cup race in Silverstone, England. Prabhu, who has directed both stars, expressed his happiness at their meeting despite fan rivalries. He recently attended a pre-release event for DD Balachandran's Lenin Pandiyan during which he spoke about this special moment.
Director's dilemma
Prabhu on not attending the event
Prabhu, who directed Kumar in the 2011 film Mankatha and Vijay in The Greatest of All Time (GOAT), said he wished he could have been at the race.
"I couldn't go to London today to attend this pre-release event. Otherwise, I would've been there. But it was important for me to be here," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.
Director's delight
'They are setting aside fan wars'
Prabhu said, "As a fan, I am very happy to see Thala and Thalapathy together. I am happy they are setting aside fan wars and meeting."
"Our CM is there for an investment meeting, and coincidentally, the race is happening at the same time. So, he's flagging it off. I am glad to see them respect their friendship."
He also shared their pictures on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, "Heart is super duper FULLLLLL (heart emojis)."
Viral reunion
More on the historic meeting
The meeting between Vijay and Kumar was a rare moment for fans. The two stars have been part of one of Tamil cinema's biggest star rivalries for over two decades.
Videos of their meeting went viral on social media, with fans expressing their joy at seeing them together.
Kumar was in Silverstone for his Michelin Le Mans Cup race, furthering his motorsport career alongside acting.
Actor Trisha, who is rumored to be dating Vijay, was also spotted at the race.
Rivalry roots
Brief history of 'Thala vs Thalapathy' rivalry
The Vijay-Kumar rivalry dates back to the 1990s when both actors were rising stars.
Their films were often released around the same time, leading to comparisons between their box-office performances.
The competition intensified in the early 2000s with Kumar's Villain and Vijay's Bagavathi releasing in 2002, followed by Anjaneya and Thirumalai in 2003.