4 min learnNew DelhiFeb 26, 2026 01:00 AM IST
Tamil actor Ajith Kumar hardly wants an introduction. His sense of objective and readability shine when one listens to him converse. One such event was when he shared his ideas about success, fame, and navigating challenges in life. “Some folks, on the finish of their life, complain about Karma or destiny, they usually really feel very bitter considering that if they’d wealth, if they’d cash, it could be completely completely different. Success is sort of a wild horse. Anyone can hop on to it,” he advised The Hollywood Reporter India in 2025.
The Good, Unhealthy, Ugly actor continued, “However if you happen to can’t tame it, it’s going to throw you off ready for the subsequent one to hop on. In unhealthy instances, all of us are very cautious. However success is once we have to be much more cautious. That’s once we make all of the errors; and when the unhealthy time comes, all of them multiply and hit us exhausting.”
Taking a cue from this line of thought, we reached out to Dr Chandni Tugnait, MD (A.M) Psychotherapist, coach and founder and director, Gateway of Therapeutic, to get some extra perception in to human thoughts. Emphasising that the phrases felt “sincere and completely different” as a result of he didn’t say them out of bitterness or remorse however a way of “consciousness”, Dr Tugnait stated that in a world that continually glorifies achievement, “his phrases felt like a pause, nearly a warning, about what occurs internally when exterior validation turns into too loud”.
“Success has an odd approach of adjusting folks, typically with out them realising it. When issues begin going nicely, when appreciation turns into frequent, and doorways open simply, self-doubt quickly disappears. That may really feel empowering, however it will also be deceptive. Many errors made throughout success come from the assumption that one can not be incorrect. Suggestions begins to really feel pointless. Over time, judgment softens, not as a result of folks grow to be careless, however as a result of they cease being questioned,” stated Dr Tugnait.
Fame provides one other layer. It doesn’t simply convey recognition, it brings fixed visibility. “Each motion you’re taking feels watched, mentioned, and interpreted, and this could quietly disconnect people from themselves. Some begin to act for the approval of the general public, fairly than their very own inside alignment. Others grow to be overly protecting, reacting very defensively as an alternative of thoughtfully. Errors that one makes in fame are sometimes emotional ones, choices pushed by worry of dropping the picture folks have constructed,” continued Dr Tugnait.
What does success appear like for you? (Picture: Freepik)
There’s additionally the loneliness that success brings, which is never talked about. As folks rise, fewer conversations stay sincere. “Not everybody round you is comfy disagreeing anymore. Recommendation turns into filtered. Over time, actuality begins to bend. One other quiet lure of success is id confusion. When achievement turns into the centre of an individual’s self-worth, they begin residing in upkeep mode on a regular basis. They shield their standing at the price of their peace, and boundaries begin blur of their life. Many errors made on the peak usually are not sudden failures, however small choices made repeatedly with out grounding,” remarked Dr Tugnait.
What makes Ajith Kumar’s assertion “resonate” is that it doesn’t reject success. “It merely questions our preparedness for it. Battle teaches resilience, however success calls for self-restraint. It asks for humility, self-awareness, and the power to remain rooted even when the world celebrates you,” stated Dr Tugnait.
