In his career spanning close to three decades, Thala Ajith has worked with numerous talents, and had been pivotal in the launch of many new directors in the industry. Despite not having worked with the biggest names of the industry, the actor had always been able to score blockbusters with promising young makers and fresh talents. Here's a look at some special makers, who had been pivotal in shaping Ajith's career and transformed him to the powerful star he is.

Saran:

Ajith had scored 5 disastrous movies after the national award winning Kaadhal Kottai (1996), and that was when Saran joined hands with the actor for the first time for Kaadhal Mannan,a romantic entertainer that had Ajith playing a character that was very much like him - someone who loves challenges and takes painstaking efforts to win them. The director announced his entry in style as he made Ajith speak "Enakku Jeyikurathu thaan Mukkiyam!" as his name rolls on the title credits. The movie's success lead to Saran directing the milestone silver jubilee flick of Thala - Amarkkalam.

While many attribute Dheena as the first mass movie of Ajith, this was the one that escalated Ajith as a mass hero, as he displayed subtle mass all over, as the goon Vasu, struck between his assignment and love. The movie was a blockbuster, and the director yet again came to the rescue after two big flops from Ajith, with Attagasam that was a complete mass entertainer capitalizing perfectly on Ajith's mass image and in dual avatars, retta Thala conquered the Diwali box office then. While the director had always known to have utilized the strengths of Ajith well and scored a hattrick with him, for once, the combo failed in Aasal, the actor's only failure when playing dual roles.

KS Ravikumar:

1999 witnessed Ajith having his Vaali released just two weeks after the release of the biggest blockbuster of the year, Padaiayappa, and still, the movie survived Padayappa storm and became one of the biggest success stories of the year. And three years down the lane, Padayappa's maker KS Ravikumar teamed up with Thala himself, for Villain. Having known for scoring mega blockbusters with top senior actors of the industry like Superstar Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan and Sarathkumar, KS Ravikumar made a perfect entertainer with two characters showcasing the acting potential with the character Vishnu, and the mass factor with the character Shiva, and balanced the class and mass very well with an entertaining screenplay.

The director yet again united with Ajith for a complete mass entertainer, and this time around, it was not one or two, but triple Thala. Varalaru (2006) came after much delays and issues, and released alongside more than 5 movies, but emerged successful, thrashing opposition. The Shivashankar character and its various shades - the feminine body language, the revelation in the interval, the Bharatanatyam fight etc were some of the highlight moments of the movie, where KSR perfectly showcased the stunning acting potential of Thala. Besides, Ajith brand villainy was also displayed well with Jeeva character. With two much needed superhits in Ajith's career, this combo was expected to unite again, but unfortunately that has not happened yet.

Vishnuvardhan:

Till 2007, Thala had been focusing on mass entertainers, and had been the typical commercial hero mouthing punches and bashing baddies, and then came a big turning point in his career. Thala made the decision to star in the remake of a Superstar Rajnikanth starrer blockbuster, and teaming with a three film old director who had made movies with younger stars, and that lead to Billa. Billa redefined the way the industry as well as fans saw Ajith, as Vishnuvardhan gave him an ultra stylish makeover. Clad in stunning blazers and suits, and sunglasses, Ajith gave major fashion goals, with a stunning style statement in the movie, and Vishnu had presented a mass plus class avatar for Ajith in the movie. Billa was the starting point of phase 2 in Ajith's career, where he went on to become the style icon of Tamil cinema, only next to Superstar.

While the combo could not team up for Billa 2, they provided yet another action feast with Arrambam, as the duo delivered another stylish, slick package entertaining fans to the core. The one sequence where Ajith gives a glare at an officer touching him alone was enough to send fans berserk, and his stylish looks and menacing acts throughout meant Arrambam was a successful outing from the combo. It is expected that the duo might soon reunite for a historical!

Siva:

Siva had debuted in Tamil with Siruthai, a remake flick, and had scored two back to back flops in Telugu, when Thala Ajith decided to join hands with him. It was a surprise for many, as after classy outings like Arrambam and Billa 2, Ajith donned the rural avatar for the first time in Veeram, and right from the welcome change he brought in itself, Siva caught the pulse of the audience. He laced the screenplay with perfect mass moments, and goosebumps scenes that was a treat for Ajith fans, and the movie, turned out to be a success. The combo continued to entertain fans, as they joined again three times after Veeram, with Vedhalam, Vivegam and Viswasam, and each of them offering different kind of treats for fans.

After Aaluma Doluma storm and the Marana mass transformations in Vedhalam, which was Thala's biggest blockbuster then, though Vivegam was not a success, the movie had special moments for fans to rejoice - be it Thala's transformation to a fit and strong hunk, the Thalai Viduthalai number or the final revelation of the chiseled physique, the movie remains special for a section of fans, probably what made Ajith join Siva again for Viswasam. His calculation did not go wrong, as Viswasam's Thookudurai took Ajith closer to families, and Viswasam became a massive success with families and ladies thronging in large numbers to theaters to witness the emotional potboiler. Irrespective of criticism, it must be noted that while Ajith's box office stamina was based on his young fans, Siva's movies to Ajith closer to family audience, with perfect packaging of masala and sentiments, while not compromising on mass!

Venkat Prabhu:

While the remaining directors mentioned here have directed Ajith more than once, Venkat Prabhu has made just one movie with Ajith, and it was a blessing that he got to direct the milestone golden jubilee flick of the actor - Mankatha. None would have expected Thala to give a green signal for VP, who had been known for his boys fun flicks high on humor and friendship based themes, and it was a complete surprise. And Venkat Prabhu was not behind in surprising fans as well, as he pulled off a stunner with Mankatha!

The ultimate fanboy of the ultimate star he was, VP paid perfect tribute to his matinee idol, by giving him a terrific makeover, as he made Ajith play the baddie, the chief baddie among all baddies - the King maker Vinayak Mahadev, oozing villainy, class, style and mass, and presented one of the best acts of Thala in his career. The ruthlessness, the scheming nature and the devil may care attitude of Vinayak was portrayed excellently by Thala, and that is what makes Mankatha a memorable flick, and Venkat Prabhu, a celebrated director for Thala fans, despite the fact that he has made just one movie with Thala. With speculations that Thala and VP might team up again soon, can one expect Mankatha 2 and the return of the deadly villain Vinayak Mahadev? Well, only time can tell us!

Thanking all these directors who shaped and played a vital part in Thala Ajith's career, giving him the biggest of blockbusters and giving him stunning image makeovers, here we are, wishing the ultimate star, Thala Ajith - the epitome of hardwork and style, a very Happy Birthday!