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He is widely considered as one of finest actors of Hindi cinema.[4][5][6] Devgn has won numerous awards in his career, including two National Film Awards. He is the son of director and action director Veeru Devgan.
Devgan began his professional career with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance.[7][8] He then starred in successful films such as Jigar (1992), Dilwale (1994), Suhaag (1994), Naajayaz (1995), Diljale (1996) and Ishq (1997). In 1998, he appeared in a critically acclaimed performance in Mahesh Bhatt's drama Zakhm and he received his first National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie. In 1999, his most-talked-about film was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in which he played Vanraj, a man who tries to unite his wife with her lover.
In the early 2000s he gave critically acclaimed performances in Ram Gopal Varma's fictional expose of Mumbai underworld Company. He played the character of a gangster called 'Malik' for which he won Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. The same year he gave another critically acclaimed performance in Deewangee for which he received the Filmfare Best Villain Award. In 2003, he won his second National Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Bhagat Singh in Rajkumar Santoshi's biopic The Legend of Bhagat Singh. Throughout his career he has performed in many critically and commercially successful films including Raincoat (2004), Yuva (2004), Apaharan(2005), Omkara (2006), Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006), Halla Bol (2008), Golmaal Returns (2008), All the Best: Fun Begins (2009), Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010), Golmaal 3 (2010), Raajneeti (2010), Singham (2011), Bol Bachchan (2012), Son of Sardaar (2012) and Singham Returns (2014). He has starred in more than 80 Hindi films. Having done so, he has established himself as one of the leading actors of Bollywood.[9][10][11]
In addition, Devgn owns a production company, Ajay Devgn Films, which was established in 2000. In 2008, he debuted as a film director with U Me Aur Hum.
He married Indian film actress, Kajol in 1999 and the couple have two children. In August 2009, Devgn changed his surname from 'Devgan' on the request of his family.[12] He was the first person in Bollywood to acquire a six-seater private jet for transport to shooting locations, promotions and personal trips.[13]
Ajay was born into a Punjabi family[14] of Delhi to Veena and Veeru Devgan. Originally from Amritsar,[14] members of his family are all related to the Hindi film industry in Mumbai. His father, Veeru Devgan, is a well-known stunt choreographer and his mother Veena Devgan, a film producer. Ajay's brother, Anil Devgan, is a Hindi film director. Ajay is an alumnus of the Silver Beach High School in Juhu and Mithibai College.
Devgn began dating co-star Kajol in 1995, while filming for Gundaraj.[15] Members of the media labelled them an "unlikely pair" due to their contrasting personalities.[16] Devgn explained their relationship by saying, "We never resorted to the usual 'I Love you' routine. A proposal never happened. We grew with each other. Marriage was never discussed, but it was always imminent".[17]
On 24 February 1999, they were married in a traditional Maharashtrian ceremony at the Devgn house.[18][19] The couple has two children. Their daughter Nysa was born on 20 April 2003[20] and their son Yug was born on 13 September 2010.[21][22] Ajay Devgn and Kajol chose to store their newborn son's umbilical cord blood and tissues, which act as a stemcell source and help protect the child from several serious ailments.[23] In August 2009, Devgn's surname was changed to its current spelling from its more well-known "Devgan", at the request of his family.[24][25] He became the first Bollywood personality to acquire a private jet for transport to shooting locations, promotions and personal trips.[26] He is the first Indian to own a Maserati Quattroporte.
Ajay Devgan's debut film was Phool Aur Kaante in 1991, where he costarred with Madhoo.[27] The film was a commercial success and Ajay Devgan's entry scene where he performed a split while balancing on two motorcycles made him an immediate action hero icon. His next success came the same year when he starred in Bollywood martial arts film Jigar alongside Karisma Kapoor. It was released on Diwali weekend and became the 7th highest grossing movie of that year, grossing INR7 crore (US$1.1 million) at box office.[27]
In 1993, he starred in Dil Hai Betaab which focused on love triangles, romantic themes, little action and the most common being revenge. He next featured in Divya Shakti.[28] Devgan's next release was Sangram. The film is a story of enimity between 2 fathers Danny and Amrish Puri somewhat similar to QSQT but here the main story is the love triangle between Karisma, Ajay and Ayesha Jhulka. It was an average film.[29] Then he worked with director Deepak Bahry in action film Ek Hi Raasta,[30] and with director Deepak Pawar in Platform. Other releases that year were Shaktiman, Dhanwan and Bedardi. Dhanwan is a romantic love triangle with Ajay Devgan, Karishma Kapoor and Manisha Koirala.[29]
In 1994, he starred in Harry Baweja's romantic action movie Dilwale. Ajay played mentally retarded character "Arun Saxena". The movie was the 10th highest grossing movie of the year at boxoffice.[31] His next release was Kanoon. He then starred in director Kuku Kohli's Suhaag with Akshay Kumar. The movie was about two friends and the life of Ajay Devgan character's Ajay Sharma/Malhotra. It was the 7th highest grossing movie of the year.[31] He then chose to work in Vijaypath after refusing Karan Arjun because shooting dates were clashing with Vijaypath. The film was the 8th highest grossing of the year.[31]
In 1995, he appeared in Mahesh Bhatt's movie Naajayaz. His next venture was Hulchul with new director Milan Luthria alongside Kajol. Upon the initial meeting of Ajay Devgan and Kajol, Kajol was angry at the producer for bringing an actor like Ajay and not an actor like Shah Rukh Khan.[citation needed] Ironically Ajay Devgan and Kajol would date for five years and eventually get married.[32] He then appeared in Gundaraj with Kajol which didn't perform at the boxoffice.[32] His next release was Haqeeqat[32] alongside Tabu. The film was the 11th highest grossing movie of the year.[32]
In 1996, he starred in action movie Jung with Mithun Chakraborty, Rambha and Aditya Pancholi. His next release was an action movie called Jaan[33] with Twinkle Khanna which was successful. He then starred in director Harry Baweja's film Diljale where he played a terrorist character Shaka.[33]
In 1997 he starred in Itihaas with Twinkle Khanna which was flop. His next release was Indra Kumar's romantic comedy Ishq alongside Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla and Kajol, in which he played Ajay, a rich boy in love with a poor girl, played by Kajol. Upon release, the film emerged as a commercial success.[34] The film grossed INR30 crore (US$4.9 million) and was the fourth highest grossing film of the year.[35] a.[34]
1998–2005[edit]
In 1998, he starred in Major Saab with amitabh bachchan and sonali bendre where he played character of army officer. The movie was successful and tenth highest grossing of the year at box office,[36] He next starred in director Anees Bazmee's second film opposite Kajol in the romantic comedy Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, a remake of the Hollywood hit French Kiss as Shekhar.It grossed 302,500,000 Indian rupees.[36] His next release was Mahesh Bhatt's Zakhm . The plot involves the communal tension of Mumbai during the riots.He played the central role of the protagonist who is fed up with religious warfare. Zakhm won Devgn several awards for his performance, including the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Star Screen Award for Best Actor,[37]
In 1999, he starred in the romantic drama Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, in which he played Vanraj, a man who tries to help his wife (Aishwarya Rai) get back together with her lover (Salman Khan).Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam marked a significant turning point in his career. The film, an adaptation of Maitreyi Devi's Bengali novel Na Hanyate, was directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and co-starred Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai.Ajay Devgn was highly praised for his performance.Rediff quoted "Ajay's role reminds you of one he did in another film, Pyar Tho Hona Hi Tha. There he is searching for the boyfriend of the girl he secretly loves. But intense scenes are his forte and he does well here. He's particularly good in the scene where he gets exasperated with his wife's stubbornness and strives to keep his cool.".[38] The movie was both critically and commercially successful and ajay devgn was nominated for filmfare best actor award .after then he appeared in Hindustan Ki Kasam with amitabh Bachchan and Sonali bendre which took best opening at that time[39] in the same year he worked with director Milan Luthria in Kachche Dhaage with Saif ali khan and Manisha koirala and the movie was hit at boxoffice[39] next movie of ajay devgn in this year was Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet which was romantic comedy and it was successful at boxoffice[39] He then starred his home production movie with director Prakash jha's film Dil Kya Kare with wife Kajol and himself in lead roles. The film was acclaimed critically. his other movies include this year was Gair and Thakshak this movie's was praised for Ajay Devgn's portrayal of a strong, silent man was one of the highlights of the movie
In 2000, he worked in Harry Baweja's Deewane. In this film, he essayed a double role, one as a thief and the other as a police officer. The film flopped at the box office.[40] The same year, Devgn starred in his first home production Raju Chacha opposite wife Kajol. The film was an average grosser at the box office.[40]
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In 2001, he starred in Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke with Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta. This film was an average grosser at the box office.[41] His next release Lajja, alongside Manisha Koirala, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor, earned him a nomination for the "Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award". The film did not perform as expected at the box office.[41] He then worked in Mahesh Manjrekar's Tera Mera Saath Rahen.
In 2002, he was featured in Ram Gopal Varma's fictional expose of Mumbai underworld Company. In this film he played the character of a gangster called 'Malik'.Company received critical acclaim and performance of Devgn was highly praised by critics.Taran Adarsh concluded about his performance "Ajay Devgn enacts his role to perfection. A controlled performance, the actor takes to this complex character like a fish takes to water. He underplays his part with admirable ease".[42] He was nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award and won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. The film fared well at the box office.[clarification needed][43] His next release was Hum Kisise Kum Nahin alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Aishwarya Rai.[43]
The same year, he also starred in Rajkumar Santoshi's biopic The Legend of Bhagat Singh.[44] in the title role. His performance was well received by critics. Taran Adarsh concluded "Ajay Devgn has lived the role. To state that he is excellent would be an understatement. His performance is bound to win admiration from cinegoers, besides fetching awards".[45] Film was released on 7 June 2002 and went on to win two National Film Awards, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, and three Filmfare Awards, including the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie.The film didn't fare well at the box office.[43] However, he won his second National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance. He then starred in Anees Bazmee's Deewangee. The film was partially inspired by William Diehl's English language novel Primal Fear and earned Devgn several awards for his negative role including, "Filmfare Best Villain Award", "Star Screen Award for Best Villain" and "Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role". The film was a success at the box office.[43]
In 2003, he starred in Ram Gopal Verma's Bhoot opposite Urmila Matondkar. The film was appreciated critically & performed very well at the box office.[46] He then starred in action thriller Qayamat: City Under Threat opposite debutante Neha Dhupia which was huge commercial success.[46] He then worked in Milan Luthria's romantic film Chori Chori opposite Rani Mukherji and Sonali Bendre. This film did not succeed at the box office.[46]
In that same year he featured in Prakash Jha's Gangaajal,The movie as a sidetrack also mentions the blinding incident at Bhagalpur. Gangaajal was declared above average at Indian box-office. His performance was well received by critics, rediff noted "Ajay Devgn pulls up an ace with a part tailormade to reinforce his seething-under-the-surface angry hero image. To his credit (and the director's), he brings style and grace to a largely stereotypical, righteous protagonist. To a great extent, his presence covers up the film's patchiness in the second half".[47] he was also nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award. He then worked in Rohit Shetty's directional debut Zameen[48] and J. P. Dutta's war film LOC Kargil.
In 2004 he was cast alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar in Rajkumar Santoshi's Khakee . The film was released on 23 January 2004 to positive reviews and went on to became one of the highest-grossing film of 2004.[49] In Khakee, Devgan played a villain for the second time. His performance as a police officer turned murderer was well received by critics, Taran Adarsh concluded "Ajay Devgn adds yet another feather in his cap with a performance that could've been essayed only by a master performer. His confrontations with Amitabh Bachchan are exemplary.".[50] Later that year he appeared in director Indra Kumar's Masti: Sanam Teri Kasamand also starred in the critically acclaimed movie Yuva[51][52][53]
Ajay Devgn next collaborated with director Rituparno Ghosh's, in the relationship drama Raincoat, an adaptation of O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi. Also featuring Aishwaraya Rai, Raincoat met with wide critical acclaim and among other wins, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.[54] his performance in Raincoat was highly praise by critics,rediff noted "Hesitation, desperation, humiliation – Ajay Devgn conveys them eloquently. His Manoj is no cool dude, but just another lower middle-class guy in misery, with whom none would like to switch place. He particularly stands out in the scenes where he cries in the bathroom, or begs Neeru not to marry someone else"[55] He was also seen in a cameo appearance in Taarzan: The Wonder Car.
2005 was less successful for him as he starred in a series of flop movies like Insan, Blackmail, Main Aisa Hi Hoon, Tango Charlie and Shikhar whilst Kaal and Apaharan succeeded at the Box Office. For his performance in Apaharan Devgn was nominated for the National Film Award for Best Actor and Filmfare Best Actor Award. His villanous performance in Kaal also earned him a nomination for the Filmfare Best Villain Award.[56]
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