Who is Japan Kumar? Thalapathy Vijay's former co-star, now runs roadside shop in Chennai; wife reveals why he chose this life

Japan Kumar is a Tamil actor and dancer who has appeared in numerous hit movies in supporting roles. Recently, a video of him working at a small stall in Chennai went viral, which left everyone in shock. The clip showed Japan Kumar working at a food stall called Sakthi Veetu Saapadu (Shakthi Home Foods) in Vadapalani, Chennai. Wearing a simple T‐shirt, glasses, and a vermilion mark, he was seen serving meals to customers at the shop. Many users assumed he had no film work and had turned to running a food stall because of financial problems. Some called it a “sad reality” of the film industry, while others said there is no shame in honest work. As speculations grew, Japan Kumar’s wife, Jyothi Kumar, spoke to Hindustan Times to set the record straight. She clarified, "The food stall belongs to his brother. When he’s not shooting and is in town, he helps him out at the shop. Whenever he’s free, he tends to help his brother. Someone took a video of him doing that, and it went viral." Japan Kumar has been active in Tamil cinema since the 1990s and early 2000s. He is popular for his energetic dancing, comic timing and expressive reactions on screen. He also shared screen space with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Silambarasan TR and R Madhavan. Besides acting, Japan has worked closely with many famous choreographers and dancers like Prabhu Deva, Raju Sundaram, Raghava Lawrence, and many more.