ACTION KING

Not particularly good looking, dark, thin and tall, Ajay Devgan burst upon the bollywood scene with just attitude.  He was the son of the famous action director Veeru Devgan.  He encashed upon the goodwill his father had built up in the industry.  Veeru was known as a helpful person, a thorough gentleman. His son wanted more.  He wanted to be a star.

He made his entry on celluloid grandly, standing atop two moving motorcycles, he made clear the image he wanted to project. The lean mean fighting machine out to destroy the bad men, and woo the heroine.  Initially he was seen as a wooden actor, the one expression man.  Thanks to the action, Phool aur Kaante, released in 1991, was a hit.  Ajay Devgan co-starred with Madhu in this movie, but his action confrontation was with none other than Amrish Puri.  He did have a romantic duet 'Dheere dheere pyar ko badhana hai' here.

His next movie was Jigar.  Here it was Kung Fu style of fighting that was on offer. Raju (Ajay Devgan) swears revenge when his sister is raped by hoodlums.  He trains under Baba Thakur (Ajit) and enters a fight competition to defeat the hoodlums.  Erm.. sounds familiar? Something similar to Enter the.. ? He was supported romantically by the early Karishma who looked like cotton candy then.  The movie was again a hit with the action affciandos.

He acted in many similar movies like Dil Hai Betaab, Shaktiman, Platform, Divya Shakti, Bedardi,Ek Hi Raasta, Sangram.
 
GLIMMER OF ROMANCE

In Dilwale, in addition to playing the action bunny, Ajay also had to play lovelorn.  Not in the Majnu style, but in a more brooding style.  He played Arun, a young man who is thwarted by his rich girlfriends father.  This was the beginning of romance entwined with his usual action.  'Jeeta tha jis ke liye' he sang soulfully.  Supported ably by Sunil Shetty and Raveena Tandon, this movie was a big hit.

In Vijaypath, Tabu sang 'Ruk Ruk Ruk' and tried to put breaks on his grim action with a little romance. In Suhaag Ajay teamed up with Akshay to temper raw action with a little comedy and a little romance with two heroines, Nagma and Karishma.
Mahesh Bhatt's Najayaz where Ajay was pitted against Naseeruddin Shah was a commercial success and a critical one for Ajay. He played the illegitimate son of Naseer who has to also deal with his corrupt ways.  His co-star was Juhi Chawla here.  But then, Mahesh Bhatt was famed for bringing out the best in his actors

In Hulchul and Gundaraj Ajay Devgan co-starred with Kajol.  It is said that Kajol was miffed to be working with Ajay Devgan initially.  She was expecting a star like Shahrukh Khan.  These movies did not do too well either.

LOVE BECKONS

Up ahead was the breezy romance which co-starred Kajol and Ajay, and Juhi and Amir.  Ishq, the Indra Kumar directed fun flick was a big success.  It also signalled a significant change in the career for Ajay.  The masala 90s were drawing to a close and romantic movies were making a comeback.  It was time for Ajay to change or perish.

Major Saab with Amitabh and Sonali Bendre did average business.  But his romantic road movie with Kajol Pyar to Hona hi Tha was a super hit.  Kajol and Ajay were an item in real life and they showed that their on-screen chemistry was good too.

Zakhm was another good movie by Mahesh Bhatt that examined his favorite topic of illegitimacy, but adding the ingrediant of religion. Ajay's mother is a born muslim but is a mistress of and totally committed to a hindu man.  The complications that arise out of this situation, esp in face of an ongoing hindu-muslim riot is what forms this story.  Ajay Devgan put in a wonderful performance, and won the national award for best actor for this movie.  After Najayaz he entered into the league of good actors, in addition to being a good action man.

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

Ajay never tried surgery or makeovers to enhance his appearance.  He stuck with his lean frame, and did not try to add any spectacular muscles or six packs to his body.  He did not even try a dental job for his uneven teeth.  Maybe this lack of embellishment actually enhanced his appeal as an ordinary guy stuck in extraordinary situations that he played in his movies.

Kachche Dhage was a semi-hit, in box office parlance.  This underrated gem was a mix of action-adventure-drama where two step brothers of diverse natures are forced to stick together to defeat a common enemy.  Saif and Ajay teamed up for this movie which is still viewed with interest.

Dil Kya Kare was a romantic family drama.  Ajay co-starred with Mahima and a morose Kajol in a love triangle.  Ajay played a family man in this movie.  But now, as time would show this family man was what Ajay would find himself playing more and more.

ROMANTIC EXTRAVAGANZA

Sanjay Leela Bhansali gave up the simple lines of his movies like Khamoshi.lkc">Khamoshi to break out big time on screen with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.  Salman, Aishwarya and Ajay Devgan played out a romantic triangle.  Salman and Aishwarya are in love, but Aish's father chucks out Salman and marries her to Ajay Devgan, a lawyer.  A distressed Aish refuses to come to terms with her marriage and denies Ajay his conjugal rights.  She wants a divorce and freedom to marry Salman.  Ajay relents and agrees to take Aish to Italy on 'honeymoon' to reunite her with Salman.  Love happens on the way and Ajay wins out.  It was a romantic extravaganza, magnificent clothes, jewellery, sets, songs all came together to form cinematic history.

This movie also conferred the status of a big star on Ajay.  Hitherto he was a dependable action hero, a sometimes romantic hero too.  But now, he was big, on par with Amir and Salman.

Takshak was Govind Nihalani's movie and brought together three unusual stars, Tabu, Ajay and Rahul Bose.  It was a good movie and critically well received.

IN GOOD COMPANY

Ajay teamed up with Ram Gopal Verma for Company where he played an underworld don.  Instead of bombastic dialogue, the accent was on an understated menace.  It was the good phase of RGV, where he was making innovative movies.  The movie was a big success.  This role has often been touted as the best ever by Ajay.  He was ably supported by Manisha, who played his moll, and also marked a remarkable debut by Vivek Oberoi.

The Legend of Bhagat Singh was made at a bad time, when 3 or 4 versions of the movie were out almost simultaneously.  Ajay's Bhagat Singh was seen as the best of the lot, and his portrayal of the legendary freedom fighter was deemed good.

For Bhoot Ajay teamed up again with RGV.  It was one of best horror movies out of bollywood, that usually relied on spooks in comic makeup, purani haveli, toota mandir for chills.  Here the chills were more sophisticated and Ajay played the harried husband of Urmila who suddenly starts behaving in a strange manner.

Prakash Jha's Gangajal took us back to the Bihari hinterland to battle the unholy nexus between mafia and politicians and a bunch of police officers committed to wipe them out under the leadership of Amit Kumar (Ajay Devgan).  A hard hitting, chilling film it gave Ajay good scope for drama and action.

In Khakhee, one of the best chor-siphi dramas from bollywood, Ajay put in a great performance again as a police officer.  This Raj Kumar Santoshi movie co-starred Ajay with Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay and Tusshar.  It was a gritty movie and was a hit.

FUN LOVE AND GAMES

By contrast, Masti was all fun and games.  Ajay played a grim police officer who is trying to unravel the mystery of Lara's death.  Understandably, the three guys (Vivek Oberoi, Reitish Dekhmukh and Aftab Shivdasani) trying to cheat on their wives with Lara are shaken by him. Understandably, in this light movie, Ajay did not have to put in much.  It was his rare try at comedy.

Yuva played out the political aspirations of a young college leader with truckloads of ideals. This Mani Ratnam movie examined the youth power with a person like Ajay Devgan (an ideal political leader) at the helm.

Rituporno Ghosh's Raincoat was a sad love story between Ajay and Aishwarya.  Their performances were again acclaimed, the movie though was seen as completely an art movie.

Tango Charlie was again a Mani Ratnam film about a couple of BSF jawans and the life they lead.  It was an unglamourous war movie which also examined the emotional turmoil that a fauji has to go through.  Ajay Devgan played Havildar Mohammad Ali or Mike Alpha who takes Tango Charlie, Bobby Deol under his wing and teaches him the ways of the world and army. It was a sensitive, fine movie, with excellent performances all around.

SHER AAYA

In Karan Johar's Kaal, Ajay played a ghostly Kaali who accompanies four friends who are lost in the jungle.  Is he there to save them or to kill them?  He definately added an aura to the film with his all black outfit, and brooding looks.

In Main Aisa Hi Hoon he attempted to replay Sean Penn in I am Sam.  Alas the indian version was a washout.

But Apaharan, another Prakash Jha movie about abductions in Bihar, another movie on mafia-politican nexus did well and brought accolades to Ajay.  As did Shikhar, a movie by Matthew Mathan on Corporate Politics.

From grimness to uninhibited fun.  Golmaal by Rohit Shetty was one of those pointless comedies that strung together situations that leave you in a permanent state of hilarity. The looney foursome of Ajay Devgan, Sharman Joshi, Tusshar and Arshad Warsi hide from some goons in a blind couple's house and while time away making eyes at the sexy neighbour, Rimi Sen. No wonder the movie was subtitled Fun Unlimited.

SHAKESPERE'S PET

Vishal Bhardwaj's vision placed Othello on UP interiors where goons fight tough and manipulate politician for power and money.  But this hardened Omkara (Othello) has an achilles heel in the form of pretty Dolly (Desdemona) who arouses in him a feeling of jealousy egged on by his envious sidekick Langda Tyagi (Iago). Ajay Devgan, Kareena and Saif put in magnificient performance to match the magnificent film. In the first half Ajay plays the oft played action hero, in the latter half, he shows the chinks in his armour by playing a tortured lover.

Omkara will remain in viewers minds for a long time to come.

BAD 2007

2007 has been particularly bad for Ajay with two stinking duds.  One was Cash, Anubhav Sinha's follow up to Dus.  While Dus was a time pass thriller, Cash turned into a confused mishmash with most actors wondering what they were doing there.  RGV ki Aag could win the vote for the worst movie ever hands down.  This much touted remake of Sholay flopped badly on its face thanks to extremely shoddy handling by RGV.

Let us hope, Ajay comes out of this bad patch unscathed and peppers his career with a lot many diverse roles that bring him more fame and fortune.

Currently, Ajay is busy directing his own movie, U me aur Hum with spouse Kajol.

GOSSSSSIP

Ajay is a die hard prankster on the set.  Something that belies his usually intense and serious look in the films.  He co-stars are kept on their toes by his pranks.

Ajay dated Karishma Kapoor for a while.

Although Kajol was sorely disappointed in him initially, she fell for him eventually and the couple dated for 5 years before tying the knot in a quiet ceremony.

Kajol and Ajay are proud parents of Nyasa now

FILMOGRAPHY

• London Dreams (2009) (in production)
• Golmaal Returns (2008) (announced) .... Gopal
• U, Me Aur Hum (2008) (filming)
• Sunday (2008) (post-production) .... ACP Rajveer Randhava
• Mr. Fraud (2007)
• Halla Bol (2007)
• Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag (2007) .... Heero
• Cash (2007) .... Karan/Doc
• Benaam (2007)
• The Awakening (2006)
• Omkara (2006) .... Omkara 'Omi' Shukla
• Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006) .... Gopal
• Shikhar (2005) .... Gaurav Gupta
• Apaharan (2005) .... Ajay Shastri
• Main Aisa Hi Hoon (2005) .... Indraneel "Neel" Thakur
• Kaal (2005) .... Kaali Pratap Singh
• Tango Charlie (2005) .... Havaldar Mohammed Ali (Mike Alpha)
• Zameer (2005) .... Suraj Chauhan
• Blackmail (2005) .... Shekhar Mohan
• Insan (2005) .... Inspector Ajit Rathod
• Taarzan: The Wonder Car (2004) .... Deven Chaudhary
• Raincoat (2004) .... Manoj 'Mannu'
• Yuva (2004) .... Michael Mukherjee
• Masti (2004) .... Inspector Sikander
• Khakee (2004) .... Yashwant Angre, Former Police Officer
• LOC: Kargil (2003) .... Lt. Manoj Kumar Pandey, 1/11 Gurkha Rifles
• Zameen (2003) .... Col. Ranvir Singh Ranawat
• Parwana (2003) .... Parwana
• Gangaajal (2003) .... Amit Kumar
• Chori Chori (2003) .... Ranbir Malhotra
• Qayamat: City Under Threat (2003) .... Rachit
• Bhoot (2003) .... Vishal
• Deewangee (2002) .... Tarang Bharadwaj
• The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002) .... Bhagat K. Singh
• Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin (2002) .... Raja
• Company (2002) .... Mallik
• Tera Mera Saath Rahen (2001) .... Raj Dixit
• Lajja (2001) .... Bulwa
• Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke (2001) .... Vicky/Rohit Verma
• Raju Chacha (2000) .... Shekhar/Raju chacha
• Deewane (2000) .... Vishal/Arun
• Thakshak (1999) .... Ishaan Singh
• Gair (1999) .... Vijay Kumar/Dev
• Hindustan Ki Kasam (1999) .... Ajay/Tauheed
• Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) .... Vanraj
• Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet (1999) .... Raju
• Dil Kya Kare (1999) .... Anand Kishore
• Kachche Dhaage (1999) .... Aftab
• Zakhm (1998) .... Ajay R. Desai
• Sar Utha Ke Jiyo (1998) .... Special Appearance
• Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998) .... Shekhar
• Major Saab (1998) .... Virendra Pratap Singh
• Ishq (1997) .... Ajay Rai
• Itihaas (1997) .... Karan
• Jung (1996) .... Ajay Bahadur Saxena
• Diljale (1996) .... Shyam
• Jaan (1996) .... Karan
• Haqeeqat (1995) .... Shiva/Ajay
• Gundaraj (1995) .... Ajay Chauvan
• Hulchul (1995) .... Deva
• Naajayaz (1995) .... Inspector Jay Bakshi
• Suhaag (1994) .... Ajay Sharma
• Vijaypath (1994) .... Karan
• Kanoon (1994) .... Vishal
• Dilwale (1994) .... Arun Saxena
• Dhanwaan (1993) .... Kashinath
• Dil Hai Betaab (1993) .... Ajay
• Shaktiman (1993) .... Amar
• Platform (1993) .... Rajoo
• Divya Shakti (1993) .... Prashant Varma
• Bedardi (1993) .... Vijay Saxena
• Ek Hi Raasta (1993) .... Karan Singh
• Sangram (1993) .... Raja S. Singh Kanwar
• Jigar (1992) .... 'Raju' Raj Verma
• Kaante.lkc">Phool Aur Kaante (1991) .... Ajay