Actor and racing enthusiast Ajith Kumar has found himself at the centre of a social media debate after a video from his recent outing at Silverstone went viral. The clip shows Ajith appearing visibly uncomfortable when a fan approaches him for a selfie, prompting criticism from some social media users over his reaction.

The incident took place during the Michelin Le Mans Cup race in the United Kingdom, where Ajith's team finished 38th overall. While the race result drew attention, it was a brief interaction between Ajith and a fan that became the bigger talking point online.

In the video, a fan approaches Ajith to take a selfie. The actor looks at him with a serious expression before his bodyguard intervenes and politely asks the fan to move away.

The fan then apologetically bows and steps aside. He does not appear to approach Ajith again, while the actor continues to look in his direction with a stern expression.

Ajith Kumar's reaction draws criticism

The video triggered mixed reactions on social media, with some users questioning why the actor appeared upset when the fan was attempting to take a photograph.

One user compared Ajith's behaviour with that of Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton, writing, “Even Hamilton doesn't behave like this.”

Another social media user criticised the reaction, saying, “it is wrong to approach even a fan's small desire with such hatred.”

The clip, however, shows only a short portion of the interaction.

Woman who filmed video defends Ajith Kumar

After the video attracted criticism, the woman who recorded the clip took to her Instgaram to defend Ajith and provide context about what she witnessed at Silverstone.

She said Ajith had been “extremely humble and respectful” while interacting with the crowd and described his behaviour towards children as gentle and loving.

According to her, Ajith appeared visibly tired but still told fans that he would return after completing the charity run. She said he later came back despite being exhausted and patiently interacted with people waiting to meet him.

The woman said she was standing at the front of the queue and personally saw Ajith greet people, speak with them and take photographs with them.

“There was no arrogance. No attitude. Just respect, patience, and humility,” she wrote, adding that she was sharing the account not as a fan but as someone who had witnessed the actor's interaction with the crowd.

She also argued that short social media clips can present only a small part of an interaction and that the full situation may look different to someone who was physically present.

The woman's defence comes as the Ajith Kumar viral video continues to circulate online, with social media users divided over the actor's reaction to the fan.