Mahanadhi Shankar, a veteran character artist is well-known for his performances as a stuntman and gangster in several films, and he also had a significant role in Ajith's 'Dheena.' Also, he is the one who called Ajith as 'Thala' on big screens before the term became the actor's identity.

However, in December 2021, the actor has penned a letter to his fans, the public and the media, humbly requesting everyone to refer to him as Ajith, Ajith Kumar or AK and not as "Thala". This note was released to the public via his manager's official social media account.

Source: Indiaglitz