Ajay Devgan , born Vishal Devgan on 2 April 1969,[1] is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.[1][3] He made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance.[4][5] He then starred in films such as Jigar (1992), Dilwale (1994), Suhaag (1994), Naajayaz (1995), Diljale (1996) and Ishq (1997). In 1999, he received his first National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Mahesh Bhatt's drama Zakhm.
In the early 2000s (decade), he starred in Lajja (2001) and Company (2002). 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 given many critically and commercially successful films including Raincoat (2004), Yuva (2004), 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) and Son of Sardaar (2012). Having done so, he has established himself as one of the leading actors of Bollywood. In 2008, he debuted as a film director with his starrer U Me Aur Hum which proved to be a moderate success at the box office. He then established the production house Ajay Devgan Films.
Contents
1 Biography
2 Career
2.1 1990s
2.2 2000s
2.3 2010s
3 Television Shows
Biography
Ajay was born in Punjab in a Punjabi Hindu Family to Veena and Veeru Devgan. Originally from Mumbai, India,[6] members of the The Mukherjee-Samarth Devagn 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 Devgan is an alumnus of the Silver Beach High School in Juhu and Mithibai College.
Kajol began dating fellow actor, Ajay Devgn, in 1994, while filming for Gundaraj.[7] Members of the media, however, labelled them as an "unlikely pair" due to their contrasting personalities.[8] 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".[9]
On 24 February 1999, they both got married in a traditional Maharashtrian style ceremony at the Devgn house.[10][11] The couple has two children. Their daughter Nysa was born on 20 April 2003[12] and their son Yug was born on 13 September 2010.[13][14] 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.[15] In August 2009, Devgn's surname was changed to its current spelling from its more well-known "Devgan", at the request of his family.[16][17] He became the first Bollywood personality to acquire a private jet for transport to shooting locations, promotions and personal trips.[18]
Career
1990s
Ajay Devgn made his debut as an actor in Phool Aur Kaante in 1991. The film grossed 11,000,000 Indian rupees (INR) and earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Male Newcomer. In 1992, he starred in Jigar alongside Karisma Kapoor, which grossed INR7,00,00,000.[19] In 1993, he worked with director Deepak Bahry in the action film Ek Hi Raasta,[20] and with Deepak Pawar in Platform. In 1994, Devgn worked in Harry Baweja's Dilwale, Suhaag and Vijaypath.[21] In 1995, he appeared in Mahesh Bhatt's Naajayaz, for which he was nominated as a Best Actor by Filmfare.[22] In 1996, he continued with Diljale".[23] and romantic comedies, such as Ishq in 1997.[24] In 1998, he starred in Major Saab, Pyaar To Hona Hi Thaand Mahesh Bhatt's Zakhm. Zakhm won Devgn several awards for his performance, including the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Star Screen Award for Best Actor[citation needed][25] Devgn's 1999 work included Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam as well as Hindustan Ki Kasam and Kachche Dhaage.[26]
2000s
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.[27] The same year, Devgn starred in his first home production Raju Chacha opposite wife Kajol. The film also bombed at the box office.[27]
Devgn with Prachi Desai and Abhishek Bachchan at the Premier of Bol Bachchan
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.[28] 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.[28] He then worked in Mahesh Manjrekar's Tera Mera Saath Rahen.
In 2002, he featured in Ram Gopal Varma's fictional expose of Mumbai underworld Company. 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][29] His next release was Hum Kisise Kum Nahin alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Aishwarya Rai.[29]
The same year, he also starred in Rajkumar Santoshi's biopic The Legend of Bhagat Singh.[30] in the title role. The film didn't fare well at the box office.[clarification needed][29] 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". This film was a success at the box office.[29]
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.[31] He then starred in action thriller Qayamat: City Under Threat opposite debutante Neha Dhupia which was huge commercial success.[31] 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.[31]
In that same year he featured in Prakash Jha's Gangaajal, for which he was nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award. He then worked in Rohit Shetty's directional debut Zameen[32] 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. Later that year he appeared in director Indra Kumar's Masti: Sanam Teri Kasamand also starred in the critically acclaimed movies Yuva[33][34][35] and Rituparno Ghosh's Raincoat.[36] 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[37]
2006 was a remarkable year in his career as he starred Golmaal and Omkara, which were to both prove enormously significant in his decade long career. Omkara, where Devgn was cast in the title role, was both a critical and commercial success[38][39][40] and Golmaal proved to be a sleeper hit. The latter film was soon to be followed by two super hit sequels Golmaal Returns and Golmaal 3. In the same year he also featured in a short documentary about the Mumbai floods of 2005 named The Awakening.[41]
2007 was again disappointing for him as he starred only in 2 movies, directorAnubhav Sinha's action thriller Cash and Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag which was a remake of the 1975 classic] Sholay. Both films received extremely poor reception both at the box office and from critics,[42] and the latter is currently placed at number 14 on the bottom 100 movies on Imdb.
In 2008 he worked with Rajkumar Santoshi and was cast with Pankaj Kapoor and Vidya Balan in Halla Bol.[43] He then starred in director Rohit Shetty's third film Sunday, before directing his first movie with wife Kajol and himself in lead roles. The film, titled U, Me aur Hum, was an average success.[43] He also had a cameo appearance in his brother Anil Devgan's film Haal–e–dil. He starred with long-time friend Sanjay Dutt and actress Manisha Koirala in Afzal Khan's Mehbooba. He then re-teamed with Rohit Shetty for the sequel of his hit film Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, Golmaal Returns which was a blockbuster hit.[43]
In 2009 he produced his third film All the Best also directed by Rohit Shetty. The film did good business and was a semi-hit.[44] Later in the year he starred in Vipul Shah's London Dreams with Salman Khan and Tamil film star Asin. The film was declared a flop.[44]
2010s
Ajay Devgn with Rohit Shetty promoting Bol Bachchan on the sets of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, July 2012
He also starred in the comedy Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? alongside Paresh Rawal and Konkona Sen Sharma which was a success. He followed this with Prakash Jha's Raajneeti and Milan Luthria's Once Upon a Time in Mumbai. Both movies were among the top grossers of 2010.[45] He was then seen alongside Akshaye Khanna in Priyadarshan's, Aakrosh. Devgn teamed up with Rohit Shetty for the fifth time withGolmaal 3. The movie was a super hit and the fourth highest grossing movie in Bollywood history. Devgn later lent his voice to the animated film Toonpur Ka Super Hero.
In 2011 he teamed up with Emraan Hashmi for Madhur Bhandarkar's comedy Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji which also starred Omi Vaidya. The film was a moderate success. He was a narrator in Yamla Pagla Deewana and also did a cameo role in the 2011 Salman Khan-starrer Ready. Devgn's next film, Singham, proved to be a milestone for him. The film grossed INR100 crores net in India, making it the 7th film to do so, and was a blockbuster worldwide.[46] Ajay's next film Bol Bachchan, where he acted alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Asin Thottumkal, also reached blockbuster status at the box office. Bol Bachchan has grossed INR124.86 crore worldwide.[citation needed]
Television Shows
Ajay Devgn would be hosting the fifth season of 'Khatron Ke Khiladi',as Akshay Kumar would not be available for the show.[47] Devgn was invited to anchor the Google+ Hangout session with Narendra Modi. In his session, Modi answered questions on ‘Strong and Glorious India Long Cherished by Swami Vivekananda.’ Devgn will make his first appearance on the small screen as the 'Sutradhar' of 'Ram Leela' on STAR TV in 2012.
In late 2012, Devgn hosted Life OK's miniseries Ramleela - Ajay Devgn Ke Saath from 21 October 2012 to 18 November 2012.[48]
In the early 2000s (decade), he starred in Lajja (2001) and Company (2002). 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 given many critically and commercially successful films including Raincoat (2004), Yuva (2004), 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) and Son of Sardaar (2012). Having done so, he has established himself as one of the leading actors of Bollywood. In 2008, he debuted as a film director with his starrer U Me Aur Hum which proved to be a moderate success at the box office. He then established the production house Ajay Devgan Films.
Contents
1 Biography
2 Career
2.1 1990s
2.2 2000s
2.3 2010s
3 Television Shows
Biography
Ajay was born in Punjab in a Punjabi Hindu Family to Veena and Veeru Devgan. Originally from Mumbai, India,[6] members of the The Mukherjee-Samarth Devagn 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 Devgan is an alumnus of the Silver Beach High School in Juhu and Mithibai College.
Kajol began dating fellow actor, Ajay Devgn, in 1994, while filming for Gundaraj.[7] Members of the media, however, labelled them as an "unlikely pair" due to their contrasting personalities.[8] 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".[9]
On 24 February 1999, they both got married in a traditional Maharashtrian style ceremony at the Devgn house.[10][11] The couple has two children. Their daughter Nysa was born on 20 April 2003[12] and their son Yug was born on 13 September 2010.[13][14] 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.[15] In August 2009, Devgn's surname was changed to its current spelling from its more well-known "Devgan", at the request of his family.[16][17] He became the first Bollywood personality to acquire a private jet for transport to shooting locations, promotions and personal trips.[18]
Career
1990s
Ajay Devgn made his debut as an actor in Phool Aur Kaante in 1991. The film grossed 11,000,000 Indian rupees (INR) and earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Male Newcomer. In 1992, he starred in Jigar alongside Karisma Kapoor, which grossed INR7,00,00,000.[19] In 1993, he worked with director Deepak Bahry in the action film Ek Hi Raasta,[20] and with Deepak Pawar in Platform. In 1994, Devgn worked in Harry Baweja's Dilwale, Suhaag and Vijaypath.[21] In 1995, he appeared in Mahesh Bhatt's Naajayaz, for which he was nominated as a Best Actor by Filmfare.[22] In 1996, he continued with Diljale".[23] and romantic comedies, such as Ishq in 1997.[24] In 1998, he starred in Major Saab, Pyaar To Hona Hi Thaand Mahesh Bhatt's Zakhm. Zakhm won Devgn several awards for his performance, including the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Star Screen Award for Best Actor[citation needed][25] Devgn's 1999 work included Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam as well as Hindustan Ki Kasam and Kachche Dhaage.[26]
2000s
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.[27] The same year, Devgn starred in his first home production Raju Chacha opposite wife Kajol. The film also bombed at the box office.[27]
Devgn with Prachi Desai and Abhishek Bachchan at the Premier of Bol Bachchan
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.[28] 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.[28] He then worked in Mahesh Manjrekar's Tera Mera Saath Rahen.
In 2002, he featured in Ram Gopal Varma's fictional expose of Mumbai underworld Company. 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][29] His next release was Hum Kisise Kum Nahin alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Aishwarya Rai.[29]
The same year, he also starred in Rajkumar Santoshi's biopic The Legend of Bhagat Singh.[30] in the title role. The film didn't fare well at the box office.[clarification needed][29] 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". This film was a success at the box office.[29]
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.[31] He then starred in action thriller Qayamat: City Under Threat opposite debutante Neha Dhupia which was huge commercial success.[31] 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.[31]
In that same year he featured in Prakash Jha's Gangaajal, for which he was nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award. He then worked in Rohit Shetty's directional debut Zameen[32] 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. Later that year he appeared in director Indra Kumar's Masti: Sanam Teri Kasamand also starred in the critically acclaimed movies Yuva[33][34][35] and Rituparno Ghosh's Raincoat.[36] 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[37]
2006 was a remarkable year in his career as he starred Golmaal and Omkara, which were to both prove enormously significant in his decade long career. Omkara, where Devgn was cast in the title role, was both a critical and commercial success[38][39][40] and Golmaal proved to be a sleeper hit. The latter film was soon to be followed by two super hit sequels Golmaal Returns and Golmaal 3. In the same year he also featured in a short documentary about the Mumbai floods of 2005 named The Awakening.[41]
2007 was again disappointing for him as he starred only in 2 movies, directorAnubhav Sinha's action thriller Cash and Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag which was a remake of the 1975 classic] Sholay. Both films received extremely poor reception both at the box office and from critics,[42] and the latter is currently placed at number 14 on the bottom 100 movies on Imdb.
In 2008 he worked with Rajkumar Santoshi and was cast with Pankaj Kapoor and Vidya Balan in Halla Bol.[43] He then starred in director Rohit Shetty's third film Sunday, before directing his first movie with wife Kajol and himself in lead roles. The film, titled U, Me aur Hum, was an average success.[43] He also had a cameo appearance in his brother Anil Devgan's film Haal–e–dil. He starred with long-time friend Sanjay Dutt and actress Manisha Koirala in Afzal Khan's Mehbooba. He then re-teamed with Rohit Shetty for the sequel of his hit film Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, Golmaal Returns which was a blockbuster hit.[43]
In 2009 he produced his third film All the Best also directed by Rohit Shetty. The film did good business and was a semi-hit.[44] Later in the year he starred in Vipul Shah's London Dreams with Salman Khan and Tamil film star Asin. The film was declared a flop.[44]
2010s
Ajay Devgn with Rohit Shetty promoting Bol Bachchan on the sets of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, July 2012
He also starred in the comedy Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? alongside Paresh Rawal and Konkona Sen Sharma which was a success. He followed this with Prakash Jha's Raajneeti and Milan Luthria's Once Upon a Time in Mumbai. Both movies were among the top grossers of 2010.[45] He was then seen alongside Akshaye Khanna in Priyadarshan's, Aakrosh. Devgn teamed up with Rohit Shetty for the fifth time withGolmaal 3. The movie was a super hit and the fourth highest grossing movie in Bollywood history. Devgn later lent his voice to the animated film Toonpur Ka Super Hero.
In 2011 he teamed up with Emraan Hashmi for Madhur Bhandarkar's comedy Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji which also starred Omi Vaidya. The film was a moderate success. He was a narrator in Yamla Pagla Deewana and also did a cameo role in the 2011 Salman Khan-starrer Ready. Devgn's next film, Singham, proved to be a milestone for him. The film grossed INR100 crores net in India, making it the 7th film to do so, and was a blockbuster worldwide.[46] Ajay's next film Bol Bachchan, where he acted alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Asin Thottumkal, also reached blockbuster status at the box office. Bol Bachchan has grossed INR124.86 crore worldwide.[citation needed]
Television Shows
Ajay Devgn would be hosting the fifth season of 'Khatron Ke Khiladi',as Akshay Kumar would not be available for the show.[47] Devgn was invited to anchor the Google+ Hangout session with Narendra Modi. In his session, Modi answered questions on ‘Strong and Glorious India Long Cherished by Swami Vivekananda.’ Devgn will make his first appearance on the small screen as the 'Sutradhar' of 'Ram Leela' on STAR TV in 2012.
In late 2012, Devgn hosted Life OK's miniseries Ramleela - Ajay Devgn Ke Saath from 21 October 2012 to 18 November 2012.[48]
