Versatile actor SINGHAM aka Ajay Devgn!

A century-old Bollywood has witnessed many actors, stars, and superstars. Many were resolutely rejected and few gleefully received but among them, who stand tall by showcasing their unmatchable and unparalleled performances, have persisted in the audience’s heart, mind, and soul forever.

Versatile Actor: Ajay Devgn

Among such one who has made acting inherent and effortless with a treasure of multiplicity of characters in the most unconventional style and with unfathomable eloquent eyes, portrayed the role of the protagonist at its best is the hero of my article. Definitely there are some close guesses, yes he is none other than versatile actor  Ajay Devgn.

Ever bankable Devgn was born to a Punjabi family originally from Amritsar, Punjab. The family had associations with the Hindi film industry in Mumbai. Devgn’s father, Veeru Devgn, was a noted stunt choreographer and action-film director, and his mother, Veena, a film producer.

The Shivaay Hero

As Ajay entered the film industry in 1991, he changed his reel name from his birth name, Vishal, to “Ajay” due to several other actors named Vishal being launched at the same time. He commenced his professional career in ‘Phool Aur Kaante’. The movie clashed with Yash-Chopra directed and Anil Kapoor starred blockbuster Lamhe and few expected it to have a fair run in the box-office but the film had turned the tide and had become a super-hit in that year. In his opening scene, Devgn performed a split while balancing between two motorcycles which brought many surprises and accolades for him. He was awarded the best debutant actor in the Filmfare award. His next film was ‘Jigar’ (1992), a Bollywood martial arts film co-starring Karisma Kapoor. It was released on the Diwali weekend and became the seventh-highest-grossing movie of that year, taking in ₹7 crores (US$980,000) at the box office.

Before embarking on his journey Ajay was heavily censured for his unconventional look and few would have given him a chance to survive in the fiercely competitive Bollywood industry. But he surprised everybody not only by his acting prowess but by producing consecutive hits when the industry needed it most.

In 1994, Devgn 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. His next release was Kanoon and then Kuku Kohli’s ‘Suhaag’ with Akshay Kumar. The movie was about two friends. Devgn played Ajay Sharma/Malhotra. Suhaag was the seventh-highest-grossing movie of the year. His next film was ‘Vijaypath’. Shooting dates for Vijaypath clashed with those of Karan Arjun the movie which Devgn finally declined. Vijaypath was the eighth-highest-grossing film of the year.

Ajay the Action Hero

In 1997, Devgn 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, Devgn played Ajay, a rich boy in love with a poor girl, (Kajol). The film grossed ₹30 crores (US$4.2 million). The film was the fourth-highest-grossing film of the year.

Ajay’s career took a  sharp U-turn when he transformed his image from an action star to a solemn actor. In 1998, Devgn gave a critically acclaimed performance in Mahesh Bhatt’s drama, ‘Zakhm’, and received his first National Film Award for the Best Actor.  The plot examines communal tension in Mumbai during the Mumbai riots. Devgn played a man who was fed up with religious conflict. Devgn won several awards for his performance, including the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Star Screen Award for the Best Actor. In 1999, Devgn 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 in Devgn’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. Devgn was highly praised for his performance. Critics said: “Ajay’s role reminds you of one he did in another film, Pyar Tho Hona Hi Tha. In the movie he was searching for the boyfriend of the girl he secretly loved. Intense scenes are his forte and he does well there. He’s particularly good in the scene where he was exasperated with his wife’s stubbornness and strived to keep his cool.” The movie was successful and Devgn was nominated for the Filmfare best actor award.

Bollywood’s Singham

Ajay by now had climbed step by step in his film career along with proving his mettle and acting prowess in a maze of characters. In 2002, Devgn performed in Ram Gopal Varma’s fictional examination of the Mumbai underworld in the film ‘Company’. Devgn played a gangster named Malik. Both Company and Devgn’s performance received critical acclaim. As Taran Adarsh reviewed: “Ajay Devgn enacts his role to perfection. A controlled performance, the actor takes to this complex character like a fish takes to water. He underplays his part with admirable ease. Devgn was nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award and won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor and the Screen Award for Best Actor. The same year, he played the role of Bhagat Singh, in Rajkumar Santoshi’s biopic ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’. His performance was well-received by critics. Taran Adarsh said, “Ajay Devgn had lived the role. To state that he is excellent would be an understatement. His performance is bound to win admiration from cinegoers, besides fetching awards.” The film was released on 7 June 2002 and went on to win two National Film Awards, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, and three Filmfare Awards, including the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie. Devgn had won  his second National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance.

Ajay Devgn did not stop there in portraying altered characters as he went on to perform in Anees Bazmee’s Deewangee. The film was partially inspired from William Diehl’s novel, Primal Fear. This was his first negative role and as no surprise this time the film earned Devgn several awards for his role including a Filmfare Best Villain Award, the Star Screen Award for Best Villain, and the Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role. The film was a success at the box office.

Another feather was added to his cap after Prakash Jha’s Gangaajal in 2003. The film was set in the time of the blinding incident in Bhagalpur, Bihar.  Ajay portrayed the character of Superintendent of Police of Tezpur district in Bihar and as the experts said, Ajay Devgn pulled up an ace with a part tailor made to reinforce his seething-under-the-surface angry hero image. To his credit (and the director’s), he brings style and grace to a largely stereotypical, righteous protagonist. Ajay now seemed a born cop for the Bollywood with his somber look and timely narrated dialogues. Devgn was nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award for this performance.

Ajay Devgn in Khaaki

In 2004, Devgn was cast with Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar in Rajkumar Santoshi’s action-thriller Khakee. The film was released on 23 January 2004. It received positive reviews and became one of the highest-grossing films of 2004. In Khakee, Devgn once again played a villain. His performance as a police officer turned murderer was well received by the critics. Devgn next collaborated with Rituparno Ghosh in the relationship drama Raincoat, with Aishwarya Rai. The film was an adaptation of O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. Raincoat met with wide critical acclaim and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

In 2006 Devgn played Othello in Omkara, a Hindi adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Othello. It was directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The film was based on a tragedy cum parody of sexual jealousy set against the backdrop of the political system in Uttar Pradesh. It premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and was screened at the Cairo International Film Festival. Omkara was well received by the critics. Taran Adarsh said: “Ajay makes a stirring and powerful interpretation of a man haunted by uncertainty about his lover’s faithfulness. Ajay was exceptional in the film and looked every inch the character he portrays.”

Devgn in Omkaara

In 2006, Devgn also starred in Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal. It had two sequels Golmaal Returns and Golmaal 3. With these movies, Ajay proved his comic characters was second to none. Golmaal Returns was a financial success with global revenues of ₹79.25 crores (US$11 million).

In the following decade, Devgn performed roles in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai (2010), Golmaal 3 (2010), Raajneeti (2010), Singham (2011), Bol Bachchan (2012), Son of Sardaar (2012), Singham Returns (2014) and Drishyam (2015).

Devgn starred in Rohit Shetty’s Singham. Taran Adarsh said: “The title means ‘Lion’ and Ajay is in the center of the battle between good and evil. Ajay is well known for the lines, “Aataa maajhi satakli”. The embodiment of screen masculinity, Ajay enacted the central character of a righteous, hard hearted cop with flourish. He brought alive on the screen a larger-than-life hero character with a determined conviction, which rendered us thunderstruck. One of the few actors who underplayed his part admirably, he returned to the over-the-top-action genre of films with this one. In a nutshell, his performance played a pivotal role in carrying the film to the winning post.

In 2016, Devgn was seen in his own production, Shivaay, which released around Diwali 2016. Shivaay is an action drama movie. Shivaay opened to mixed reviews and grossed more than ₹146 crores (US$20 million).

In 2018, Devgn starred in Raj Kumar Gupta’s Raid where he played the role of an honest Indian Revenue Service officer, which released to positive critical feedback on 16 March and was a commercial success.

The unsung warrior

Come to 2020 Ajay portrayed the character of  ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’  – The film traced the life of the fierce Maratha warrior, Tanhaji Malusare, who was one of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s closest aides and a military leader. It focused on the famous Battle of Sinhagad (February 4, 1670), which saw Tanhaji take on Udaybhan, a Rajput who fought for Aurangzeb against the Marathas. It was a huge success as the movie grossed more than 350 crores at the box office.

In the last three-decades, few superstars would have matched Ajay Devgn in forms super hits, range of characters, and in the winning of national awards. But he is always candid of his success in this journey as he had recently stated “Got the right characters at the right time to play and thrive in the industry.” It augurs well for his character in real life where other counterparts take credit for their success. Here we should not forget to mention that he is a family man with a reel partner turned real partner – perky actress Kajol Mukherjee and they are blessed with a boy and girl. With blockbusters to come in years to follow like Bhuj, Maidan, RRR, and what next Mr. Ajay Devgan, correction Devgn (post-2009) has planned for us, we have to wait and see?

Ajay Devgn set to play squadron leader Vijay Karnik in ‘Bhuj: The Pride of India