Ajayakumar, popularly known as Guinness Pakru, is a well-loved actor in Malayalam cinema who has captured the hearts of audiences through numerous films. He gained widespread recognition with his lead role in Athbhutha Dweepu and even set a Guinness World Record as the shortest actor to play a lead role in a feature film. However, the origin of his unique stage name has an interesting backstory, which Pakru recently shared.
Initially, many people, including his colleagues in the film industry, used to call him Unda Pakru (a nickname meaning “round Pakru”). However, this name raised concerns for some. “Several people, including my wife, questioned whether the name carried a mocking tone. After our marriage, she asked me if we could change it,” he said. Pakru reassured her, saying, “My real name is Ajayakumar, not Unda Pakru.” Even his mother disliked the nickname.
The turning point came during a discussion about his stage name when veteran actor Innocent suggested that Pakru should consider dropping the nickname. Around the same time, he received the Guinness World Record. The certificate was first handed to him on the set of the movie Ee Pattanathil Bhootham, where it was presented by none other than Mammootty. “From then on, Mammukka started calling me ‘Guinness’ repeatedly,” Pakru said.
This inspired him to adopt Guinness Pakru as his professional name. “That’s how I became Guinness Pakru,” he explained.
Spiritual Journey to Sabarimala
Recently, Guinness Pakru expressed his joy after visiting Sabarimala. It was his first pilgrimage to the sacred site since the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with friends, he began the journey from his home in Chottanikkara, carrying the traditional Irumudi. Pakru walked barefoot from Pamba to the temple at Sannidhanam, marking his eighth visit to Lord Ayyappa.
The actor’s candid revelation about the origins of his stage name has since gone viral on social media, drawing admiration for his humility and the unique journey behind his identity.
