Page 49 - April 2021
P. 49
AJAY DEVGN
JOURNEY FROM BEING
AN ENTERTAINER TO AN ACTOR
went on to be one of the biggest grosser
of 1991. For the next few years, Devgn’s
films were thorough commercial movies,
some that went to be massive hits but not
necessarily very rich in content and realism.
Around this time he actually met his lady
love, Kajol, while filming Gundaraj. On
24 February 1999, the couple wedded
in a conventional Maharashtrian Hindu
function at the Devgn home.
There was a remarkable change in choice
of cinema, the portrayal of characters
and the critical acclaim that Ajay Devgn
went on to earn from here on. Yes, the
commercial films continued and they are
an essential part of any superstar’s career
graph. But with them came the character
roles and thankfully they came in regular
intervals. In 1996, 1998, 1999, and
2001 he was nominated for Naajayaz,
Zakhm, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and
When we talk about 90s heroes of Bollywood Lajja but the Filmfare did not come his
who can act in comedy, romantic, and action way. Well, this is probably what they call rigged
films, we definitely think about Ajay Devgn! Vishal awards. From the tough cop in Naajayaz who
Veeru Devgan, the man who has played Othello has to take action against an estranged father to
and Magwitch onscreen; is who we know as Ajay the dark and powerful character who has chosen
Devgn. It’s been more than 3 decades since he the untrodden path to fight social evils in Lajja;
has been in Bollywood. He is one of the most Ajay Devgn had a lot to offer in this period. It is
versatile actors Bollywood has ever created. also ironic that he missed the Filmfare for Zakhm
Devgn’s debut Phool Aur Kaante was a but won the much-coveted National Film Award
commercial pot-boiler. Ajay Devgn achieved an as best actor for the same film.
award for his first film! Phool Aur Kaante got him Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam which was in the
the Filmfare for best debut and though the film news for a lot of off-screen romance had an Ajay
will probably not make it to the filmmaking case Devgn who did more talking with his eyes than
studies; one cannot forget Devgn’s entry, a split on with words. And women fell not only for Vanraj
two moving motorbikes. His stunt was so famous but also the man who portrayed the character.
that he still repeated it several times, especially The honesty in Vanraj’s character oozed out of
in Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal series. His next film Ajay Devgn and went on to be one of the better
characters of the nineties.
