Ajay Devgan (born Vishal Veeru Devgan on 2 April 1969),[1] also credited as Ajay Devgn,[2] is an Indian Bollywood actor, film director and producer. He is widely considered as one of the most popular actors of Hindi cinema who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi films.[3][4][5] He has won numerous awards and has been honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 2016. He is the son of 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.[6][7] 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, 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)," Gangajal, (2004), Yuva (2004), Apaharan (2005), Omkara (2006), Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006), 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), Singham Returns (2014) and Drishyam (2015) . He has starred in more than 80 Hindi films. Having done so, he established himself as one of the leading actors of Bollywood.[8][9][10]
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' to 'Devgn' on the request of his family.[11]
Contents [hide]
1 Personal life
2 Acting career
2.1 1990s
2.2 2000s
2.3 2010s
3 Producer
4 Filmography
5 Awards and honours
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
Personal life[edit]
Devgan was born to a Punjabi family[12] of Delhi and originally of Amritsar.[12] The family has connections to the Hindi film industry in Mumbai. Devgan's father, Veeru Devgan, is a stunt choreographer and action film director and his mother, Veena, is a film producer. Devgan's brother, Anil Devgan, is a Hindi film director. Devgan graduated from the Silver Beach High School in Juhu and Mithibai College.
Devgan with his wife Kajol
In 1995, Devgan's relationship with his wife, Kajol, began whilst they were co-starring in Gundaraj.[13] The media called them "an unlikely pair" due to their contrasting personalities.[14][15] On 24 February 1999, the couple married in a traditional Maharashtrian ceremony at the Devgan home.[16][17]
The couple has two children. Their daughter was born in 2003[18] and their son was born in 2010.[19][20][21] Devgan and Kajol stored their newborn son's umbilical cord blood and tissues to act as a source of stem cells in case of serious ailment.[22] In August 2009, Devgan changed his surname to a new spelling, Devgn, at the request of his family.[23][24][25] Devgan was the first Bollywood personality to own a private jet for transport to shooting locations, to promotions and for personal trips.[26]
Acting career[edit]
Further information: Ajay Devgan filmography
1990s[edit]
In 1991, Devgan began his professional career in Phool Aur Kaante and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut.[27][28] He costarred with Madhoo.[29] In his opening scene, Devgan performed a split while balancing between two motorcycles, in the style of an action hero. His next film was Jigar (1992), a Bollywood martial arts film co-starring Karisma Kapoor. It was released on Diwali weekend and became the seventh highest grossing movie of that year, taking ₹7 crore (US$1.0 million) at the box office.[29]
In 1993, Devgan starred in Dil Hai Betaab, a movie about a love triangle and romantic themes such as revenge. He next featured in Divya Shakti[30] and then Sangram, the story of the enmity between two fathers.[31] Devgan then worked with Deepak Bahry who directed the action film Ek Hi Raasta,[32][33] and with Deepak Pawar who directed Platform. Other releases that year were Shaktiman, Dhanwan and Bedardi.
In 1994, Devgan starred in Harry Baweja's romantic action movie Dilwale. He played the part of Arun Saxena, a man with intellectual impairment. The movie was the tenth highest grossing movie of the year.[34] His next release was Kanoon and then Kuku Kohli's Suhaag with Akshay Kumar. The movie was about two friends. Devgan played Ajay Sharma/Malhotra. Suhaag was the seventh highest grossing movie of the year.[34] His next film was Vijaypath. Shooting dates for Vijaypath clashed with those of Karan Arjun which Devgan declined. Vijaypath was the eighth highest grossing film of the year.[34]
In 1995, Devgan appeared in Mahesh Bhatt's movie Naajayaz and then Hulchul directed by Milan Luthria. Kajol co-starred.[35] Devgan and Kajol then appeared in Gundaraj which did not perform well at the boxoffice.[35] His next release was Haqeeqat[35] costarring with Tabu. This film was the eleventh highest grossing movie of the year.[35]
In 1996, Devgan starred in an action movie Jung with Mithun Chakraborty, Rambha and Aditya Pancholi. His next release was an action movie called Jaan[36] with Twinkle Khanna. He then starred in Harry Baweja's film, Diljale where he played a terrorist character called Shaka.[36]
In 1997, Devgan starred in a poorly received movie, Itihaas with Twinkle Khanna. His next release was Indra Kumar's romantic comedy, Ishq with Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla and Kajol. In this successful film, Devgan played Ajay, a rich boy in love with a poor girl (Kajol).[37] The film grossed ₹30 crore (US$4.5 million). The film was the fourth highest grossing film of the year.[37][38]
In 1998, Devgan gave a critically acclaimed performance in Mahesh Bhatt's drama, Zakhm and received his first National Film Award for Best Actor. In 1999, in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devgan played Vanraj, a man who tries to unite his wife with her lover. Devgan then starred in Major Saab with Amitabh Bachchan and Sonali Bendre where he played the character of an army officer. The movie was successful and was the tenth highest grossing film of the year.[39] He next starred with Kajol in Anees Bazmee's second film, the romantic comedy Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, a remake of the Hollywood hit French Kiss. It grossed 302,500,000 Indian rupees.[39] Devgan's next release was Mahesh Bhatt's Zakhm. The plot examines communal tension in Mumbai during riots. Devgan played a man who is fed up with religious conflict. Devgan won several awards for his performance, including the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Star Screen Award for Best Actor.[40]
In 1999, Devgan 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) reunite with her lover (Salman Khan). Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam marked a significant turning point Devgan's 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. Devgan was highly praised for his performance. Rediff said, "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."[41] The movie was successful and Devgn was nominated for the Filmfare best actor award. After that, he appeared in Hindustan Ki Kasam with Amitabh Bachchan and Sonali Bendre.[42] He then worked with the director Milan Luthria in Kachche Dhaage with Saif Ali Khan and Manisha Koirala. The movie was a box-office hit.[42] He then performed in the successful movie Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet, a romantic comedy[42] and then in his home production movie with Kajol and the director, Prakash Jha. The film was titled Dil Kya Kare. His other movies in 1999 were Gair and Thakshak in which he played a strong, silent man.
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