From Versatile Actor to Bollywood Powerhouse: The Success Journey of Ajay Devgn
Ajay Devgn was born as Vishal Veeru Devgan. Professionally he is known as Ajay Devgn. He is an Indian actor, film director and a producer. He works primarily in Hindi cinema. Up to now, he has appeared in over 100 films. For them he has won many accolades, including four National & four Filmfare awards.
He was honoured by the Govt. of India with the Padma Shri Award in 2016. That is the country’s 4th highest civilian honour. In 1991, he made his debut as a lead hero in an action and romantic movie Phool Aur Kaante.
The movie earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. Later he acted in Jigar, Vijaypath, Dilwale, Jaan, Diljale, Ishq and many more. For Zakhm and The Legend of Bhagat Singh, he twice won the best actor National Film Award. For portraying the title role in Tanhaji, he won this third National Film Award for Best Actor.
He owns a production company named Ajay Devgn FFilms in 2000. He got married with actress Kajol.
Background and family influences
Ajay Devgn was born on 2nd April 1979 to a Punjabi Hindu family from Amritsar, Punjab. His father Veeru Devgan was a stunt choreographer and action-film director and his mother, Veena, is a film producer. His cousin, Anil Devgan, is a filmmaker and screenwriter. Devgn graduated from the Silver Beach High School in Juhu and then studied at Mithibai College.
Marriage to Bollywood actress Kajol and family life
In 1995 his relationship with the actress, Kajol, began whilst they were co-starring in Gundaraj. The media called them “an unlikely pair” due to their contrasting personalities. On 24 February 1999, the couple married in a traditional Maharashtrian Hindu ceremony at the Devgan home.
The couple has two children, daughter- Nysa and son Yug. Devgn was the first Bollywood personality to own a private jet for transport to shooting locations, to promotions and for personal trips.
Brief overview of Ajay Devgn’s career in Bollywood
Ajay Devgn began his professional career alongside Madhoo in the action romance Phool Aur Kaante, which earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. In his opening scene, Devgn performed a split while balancing between two motorcycles.
His next film was Jigar co-starring Karisma Kapoor. It was released on Diwali weekend and became the seventh-highest-grossing film of that year, taking ₹7 crore (US$880,000) at the box office.
Later he acted in Dil Hai Betaab, Sangam, Ek Hi Raasta, Dhanwan and many more.
His movie Dilwale was the 10th highest grossing movie of the year. His film Vijaypath was the eighth-highest-grossing film of the year.
His movie Haqeeqat co-starring with Tabu, was the eleventh-highest-grossing film of the year. It emerged as the fourth-highest-grossing film of the year.
Ajay Devgn acted in Pyar To Hona Hi Tha against Kajol. In 1999, Devgn starred in the musical romance Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam against Salman Khan and Aishwarya ray. The film proved to be a commercial success and earned Devgn his third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Establishment of production company Ajay Devgn FFilms
In 2000, Devgn starred in his first home production; Raju Chacha, with Kajol. The film was moderately successful.
Ajay Devgn starred in Company in 2002. He played the role of Bhagat Singh, in Rajkumar Santoshi’s biopic The Legend of Bhagat Singh. The 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 Award for Best Film (Critics).
He acted in Gangajal also. He received his fifth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film. He then worked in Rohit Shetty’s directional debut Zameen and J. P. Dutta’s war film LOC Kargil.
In 2004, Ajay Devgn was also seen in a cameo appearance in Taarzan: The Wonder Car. In 2006, Devgn starred in Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal. It had two sequels Golmaal Returns and Golmaal 3. In 2008, Devgn also starred in Rohit Shetty’s third film Sunday. In 2009, Devgn produced his third film, All the Best, directed by Rohit Shetty.
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Ajay Devgn starred in Rohit Shetty’s Singham. Singham earned him his seventh nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. He then starred David Dhawan’s action comedy film Rascals.
In 2013, Devgn featured in the critically and commercially unsuccessful remake of Himmatwala. Devgn next featured in Prakash Jha’s political drama Satyagraha.
Transition into action roles with films like “Singham” series
In 2014, Devgn featured in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Returns, a sequel to Singham. In 2015, Devgn starred in Drishyam. He was seen in his own production Shivaay. In 2018, he acted in Raid.
In 2021, he starred alongside Sanjay Dutt, Sharad Kelkar, Nora Fatehi and Sonakshi Sinha in the historical film, Bhuj: The Pride of India and had a cameo in Sooryavanshi, reprising as DCP Bajirao Singham.
In 2022, Devgn made his OTT debut with the web series, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, on Disney+ Hotstar. The same year, he released his third directorial, Runway 34. It received positive reviews from both the critics and audience.
He was also seen in extended cameo appearances in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi and S. S. Rajamouli’s RRR, for which he received high praise. Later he starred in the sequel to Drishyam, Drishyam 2, directed by Abhishek Pathak.
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It became a major critical and commercial success, along with becoming his second highest-grossing film of his career, after Tanhaji. He has also announced the fifth entry of the Cop Universe and the much awaited sequel to Singham Returns, Singham Again, which is set to release in 2024.
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