HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR DEVGAN

Real name: Vishal Veeru Devgan

Age: 43 years

Birthday: 2nd April, 1969

Zodiac: Aries

Marital status: Married to actress Kajol, with a daughter, Nysa, and a son, Yug.

Awards: 2 National Film Awards for Best Actor; Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut, Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role, 2 Filmfare Critics Awards for Best Performance

Trivia: In August 2009, Ajay Devgan changed his last name to Devgn on the request of his family.

He was probably the first Bollywood personality to acquire an aircraft for transport to shooting locations, promotions and personal trips.

Ajay Devgan Biography

With his intense eyes and his famed reticence, Ajay Devgan stands out in the hustle-bustle of tinsel town. He is an award winning actor who has also directed and produced several films.

Ajay Devgan was born in a Punjabi family to Veeru Devgan, a stunt director, and Veena Devgan, who is known to have produced a film. Anil Devgan, his brother, is a Hindi film director. On February 23, 1999, he married Hindi film actress Kajol.

Ajay Devgan made his debut in Bollywood in the year 1991 with Phool Aur Kaante. The film is still remembered for his introduction scene. Most of his films at the start of his career were packed with a generous amount of dishum-dishum, like Jigar, Ek Hi Raasta and Platform. In 1994, Devgan worked in Dilwale, and in Suhaag and Vijaypath.

In 1995, he worked in Mahesh Bhatt’s Naajayaz and followed it up with Diljale (1996). Along with these Devgan has also starred in a string of action films that went unnoticed. In 1997, he moved away from action with the rom-com hit Ishq opposite Kajol.  In 1998, Ajay had three releases; Major Saab, Pyar To Hona Hi Tha and Zakhm. His most talked about film in 1999 was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in which he played Vanraj, a man who tries to help his wife get back together with her lover (Salman Khan). He produced and acted in Raju Chacha in 2000, along with Kajol. However the film did average business at the box office. In the year 2001, he starred in Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke and Lajja.

In 2002, he was featured in Ram Gopal Verma’s fictional expose of Mumbai’s underworld, Company. In this film he played the character of a gangster called ‘Malik’. His next release was Hum Kisise Kum Nahin. In the same year, he starred in the biopic The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Deewangee.

In 2003, he starred in Bhoot. The film was critically acclaimed and performed very well at the box-office. He then starred in action thriller Qayamat, the political drama Gangaajal, and the war film, LOC Kargil. This was followed by some remarkable performances in Mani Ratnam’s Yuva and Rituparno Ghosh’s art film, Raincoat.

In 2006, Devgan had two major hits; Golmaal, a-laugh-a-minute comedy and Vishal Bharadwaj’s Omkara, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. Devgan had a dull year in 2007 as both the films he starred in were big disasters: Cash and Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag. Year 2008 saw the release of U, Me Aur Hum, his directorial debut, in which also acted. The film received an average response. The Golmaal sequel, Golmaal Returns, with Devgan playing Gopal, was a high-grosser. Devgan had two releases in 2009 – All the Best, a comedy and London Dreams, with Salman Khan and Asin.

The year 2010 was great for Ajay Devgan as all the six films of his: Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?, Raajneeti, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, Aakrosh, Golmaal 3, and the animated fare Toonpur ka Superrhero did well at the box office, making Devgan, one of the most bankable stars in Bollwyood.

Ajay Devgan’s first film in 2011 was Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji.The film was an average grosser at the box-office.

His other films in 2011 were Singham and Rascals. While Rascals failed to do well, Singham turned out to be a super-hit.