Ajay Devgan

Ajay Devgan
Born	Vishal Devgan April 2, 1969 (1969-04-02) (age 40) New Delhi, India
Occupation	Film actor, Director, Producer
Years active	1991 - present
Spouse(s)	Kajol Devgan (1999-present)

Vishal Veeru Devgan (Hindi:विशाल देवगन, born 2 April 1969 in New Delhi, India), popularly known as Ajay Devgan, is a National Film Award-winning actor who appears in Hindi (Bollywood) films. Beginning his career as an action hero in the early 1990s, Devgan has since established himself as one of the actors open to serious roles in Bollywood. In 2008 he ventured into directing as well with U, Me Aur Hum, which saw him starring in the lead role alongside his wife, popular actress Kajol.

Biography

Devgan is from Punjab. His family is of Punjabi descent. His father is Veeru Devgan, a stunt choreographer; his mother Veena Devgan produced one film; and his brother, Anil Devgan is a Bollywood film director. He is a graduate of Bappu School in Juhu and Mithibai College. He married actress Kajol on 24 February 1999. Their daughter, Nysa Devgan, was born on 20 April 2003.

Career

Devgan made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante (1991), in which he played the son of antagonist Amrish Puri. His performance won him a Filmfare Best Debut Award. Many of his early movies were of the action genre. He worked with director Deepak Bahry on the action film Ek Hi Raasta opposite Raveena Tandon. He soon began starring in comedy films, such as Ishq in 1997.

In 1998, Devgan was the leading actor in Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, one of the biggest hits of that year. He next starred in Mahesh Bhatt's Zakhm. The film was highly acclaimed, as was his performance. He won several awards for his performance, including the coveted National Film Award for Best Actor and Star Screen Award Best Actor.

Devgan saw further success in 1999 when Sanjay Leela Bhansali cast him opposite Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai for the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, which was a critical and commercial success.^[1] Devgan's performance in the film earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the Filmfare.

Devgan went on to be recognised for his association with filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, resulting in several successful projects. In 2002, the drama Company earned him his second Star Screen Award Best Actor. In the same year, his performance in Rajkumar Santoshi's The Legend of Bhagat Singh won him his second National Film Award for Best Actor.

In 2004, Devgan starred in several critically appreciated films, including Mani Ratnam's Yuva and Rituparno Ghosh's Raincoat. Neither of these projects did well at the box office.

In 2006, he played the title role in the critically acclaimed adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, titled Omkara.

In 2007, Devgan starred in Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, a remake of the classic film Sholay. The film was a major failure critically as well as commercially.^{[citation needed]}

Devgan's first 2008 release, Halla Bol, was not a box office success,^{[citation needed]} but Devgan's performance won appreciation from critics.^{[citation needed]} Next came Sunday, which performed below average at the box office.^{[citation needed]}

Devgan's directorial debut, U, Me Aur Hum, in which he starred opposite his wife, was released on 11 April 2008.

Devgan's latest project includes Golmaal Returns, a sequel to Golmaal and All the Best - Fun Begins.

Awards and nominations

Filmography

Actor

Producer

Director

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ajay Devgan

• Ajay Devgan at the Internet Movie Database