‘The first thing he taught me…’ Manju Warrier on Ajith Kumar’s life-saving bike lesson
Malayalam superstar Manju Warrier, who has recently taken up biking in her 40s, has opened up about a rigorous and life-changing experience that pushed her to finally trade the passenger seat for the handlebars.
In two candid interviews, the actress detailed a “magical” 14-day expedition to Ladakh that ultimately gave her the push to earn her motorcycle license.
Speaking to host Rayane Mithun on The Rayanw Show, Manju shared that biking was earlier just a “bucket list” idea rooted in childhood memories of watching her father ride. However, the real spark came on the sets of the film Thunivu, where she learned the basics of riding.
The momentum shifted when her co-star Ajith Kumar invited her to join him and a group of professional bikers on a major Himalayan expedition.
During her interview with Cineulagam, Manju clarified that while the professional team started from Chandigarh, she joined them in Ladakh for a 14-day stretch. Since she didn’t have a road license at the time and the bikes were “very heavy” and fast, she participated as a pillion rider.
The experience wasn’t easy. Manju admitted the first two days were “extremely exhausting,” but the rigour of the journey soon turned into a “kick” she began to crave. She described the trip as deeply emotional, noting that “experiencing Ladakh on a bike is something different... you feel emotional for no reason”.
She also contrasted the spiritual “magic” of the Himalayas with city riding, joking that you won’t get the same feeling elsewhere.
A key part of her motivation to become a serious rider came from technical mentorship by Ajith Kumar. On Cineulagam, she recalled an important safety lesson he shared while handling the heavy machines.
“The first thing Ajith Sir taught me was how to save myself if the bike falls, to jump away so your leg doesn't get trapped under it,” she said. He emphasized that with such heavy bikes, self-protection is essential to avoid serious injury.
The experience in the mountains and the discipline of the group gave Manju the “rigour” to stop waiting. “The experience that I got during that ride... then I decided I'm going back and getting my license and buying a bike,” she said on The Rayanw Show.
True to her word, she obtained her license and has since taken on her own rides, including a “magical” solo stretch from Rameshwaram to Dhanushkodi.
On the work front, she will next be seen in the spy action thriller Mr. X, directed by Manu Anand. The film, starring Arya, Gautham Karthik, Manju Warrier, and Sarathkumar, is slated for a theatrical release on April 17, 2026.