Home > Arts > Cinema > Bollywood >> Ajay Devgan

HEADLINES:  

AJAY DEVGAN


Filmography

Ajay Devgan, born Vishal Veeru Devgan on 2 April 1969 is an Indian film actor, director, and producer. He made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance in the film.

He then starred in films such as Jigar (1992), Dilwale (1994), Suhaag (1994), Naajayaz (1995), Diljale (1996) and Ishq (1997).

His film Rascals which opened to mainly negative reviews, was a box office flop. Devgn has also established his own production house in his name, Ajay Devgn Films.


Date Of Birth : April 2, 1969
Place Of Birth: Mumbai
Zodiac Sign: Aries

In 1999, Devgan received his first National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Mahesh Bhatt's drama Zakhm. Some of his later films of the decade are Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Kachche Dhaage. In the early 2000s, 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.

temp-thumb
temp-thumb
  • Devgan was born in Mumbai. His father Veeru Devgan is initially Punjabi from Amritsar, Punjab.

  • Veeru Devgan is an exploit choreographer, and his mother Veena Devgan, has shaped one film. Anil Devgan, his brother, is a Hindi film director.

  • .He is a student of Silver Beach High School in Juhu and Mithibai College.

Phool Our Kaantee

Ajay Devgan's first appearance was in Phool Our Kaantee in 1991 which grossed 11,000,000 Indian rupees and earned him Filmfare Award for Best Newcomer. In 1992, he starred in Jigar together with Karisma Kapoor, which grossed 7, 00, 00,000 Rs. In 1993, he toiled with director Deepak Bahry in the action film Ek Hi Raasta, and with Deepak Pawar in Platform. In 1994, Devgan worked in Harry Baweja's Dilwale, Suhaag and Vijaypath.

Diljale

In 1995, he emerged in Mahesh Bhatt's Naajayaz, for which he was nominated for "filmfare best actor award".In 1996, he sustained with "Diljale".Devgn began starring in comedy films, such as Ishq in 1997. In 1998, he starred in Major Saab and Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha. He next starred in Mahesh Bhatt's Zakhm.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

He won several awards for his performance, including the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Star Screen Award for Best Actor. Devgan's 1999 work integrated Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam as well as Hindustan ki kasam and Kachche dhage.

Deewane

In 2000, he toiled in Harry Baweja's Deewane. In this film, he essayed the job of two persons, where one is a thief and the other is a police officer. The film was a flop at the box office. In the same year, he starred in his first home production Raju Chacha opposite wife Kajol. The film also bombed at the box office.

Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke

In 2001, he starred in Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke co-starring Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta. This film was an average grosser at the box office. 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. He then worked in Mahesh Manjrekar's Tera Mera Saath Rahen.

Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin

In 2002, he featured in Ram Gopal Varma's fictional expose of Mumbai underworld Company. He was nominated for Filmfare Best Actor Award and won Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. The film fared well at the box office. His next release was Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Aishwarya Rai.

The Legend of Bhagat Singh

In the same year, he starred in Rajkumar Santoshi's biopic The Legend of Bhagat Singh. The film didn't fare well at the box office. 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. He won 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.

Qayamat

In 2003, he starred in Ram Gopal Verma's Bhoot opposite Urmila Matondkar. The film was appreciated critically and performed very well at the box office. He then starred in action thriller Qayamat: City under Threat opposite debutante Neha Dhupia which was a huge commercial success. 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. In that same year he featured in Prakash Jha's Gangaajal, for which he was nominated for "Filmfare Best Actor Award". He then worked in Rohit Shetty's directional debut Zameen, which grossed 16,00,00,000 Rs and J. P. Dutta's war film LOC Kargil.

Sanam Teri Kasam

In 2004 he was cast along with Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar in Rajkumar Santoshi's Khakee which grossed 36,25,00,000 Rs. The film had a bumper opening and was declared success in one week. He then appeared in director Indra Kumar's Masti: Sanam Teri Kasam. The movie has average performance. Then he starred in critically acclaimed movies such as Yuva (his role was appreciated), and Rituparno Ghosh's Raincoat. He then had cameo appearance in Taarzan and The Wonder Car.

Main Aisa Hi Hoon

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 the Superstar was nominated for the National Film Award for Best Actor and Filmfare Best Actor Award. For his villanous performance in Kaal he was nominated for the Filmfare Best Villain Award.

2006 was a remarkable year in his career as he starred in two of his famous films Golmaal and Omkara. Omkara was a critical and a commercial hit in which he was cast in the title role and Golmaal was a sleeper hit which was later followed by two super hit sequels Golmaal Returns and Golmaal 3. He is also featured in a short documentary about Mumbai floods of 2005 named The Awakening.

U, Me aur Hum

2007 was again disappointing for him as he starred only in 2 movies, one of which was Anubhav Sinha's action thriller Cash in which he was cast along with Sunil Shetty. The movie did a below average collection at the box-office and the other was Ram Gopal Varma's Ki Aag which was a remake of the 1975 classic Sholay. The film established awfully poor reception from critics, and was placed at number 14 on the bottom 100 movies on Imdb at that time. The film is considered as a benchmark for bad movies.

In 2008 he worked with Rajkumar Santoshi and was cast with Pankaj Kapoor and Vidya Balan in Halla Bol. 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. 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.

In 2009 he produced his third film All the Best which was directed by Rohit Shetty. The film did good business and was a semi-hit. Later in the year he starred in Vipul Shah's London Dreams with Salman Khan and Tamil film star Asin. The film did not succeed and was declared a flop.


  • In the beginning of 2010 he worked with actors Amitabh Bachchan and Ben Kingsley in Leena Yadav's Teen Patti. He 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. Then he worked alongside Akshaye Khanna in Priyadarshan's rough adaptation of Mississippi Burning, Aakrosh. He again teamed up with Rohit Shetty for Golmaal 3.


  • The movie was a super hit and the forth highest grossing movie in Bollywood history as it received mixed to good reviews. Then he starred in the animated film Toonpur Ka Super Hero. In 2011 he again teamed up with Emraan Hashmi in Madhur Bhandarkar's comedy Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji which also starred Omi Vaidya and the film became a moderate success.


  • He was a narrator in Yamla Pagla Deewana. He also did a cameo role in the 2011 Salman Khan-starrer Ready. Devgan's next film, Singham, proved to be a milestone for him. The film grossed 100 crores net in India, making it the 7th film to do so.



  • Among other awards and nominations, Devgan has won two National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards.

  • On 23 February 1999, he married Hindi film actress Kajol. The scene for the wedding was changed from a Sikh Gurdwara at Andheri in northwest Mumbai to the Devgan dwelling, after a newspaper exposed the location.The couple have two children. Daughter Nysa was born 20 April 2003 and son Yug was born 13 September 2010.In August 2009, Devgan changed his last name to Devgn on the request of his family. He became the first Bollywood personality to acquire a private jet for transport to shooting locations, promotions and personal trips.


  • 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 Mumbai (2010), Golmaal 3 (2010), Raajneeti (2010), and Singham (2011). 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 Devgn Films.