Who is Ajay Devgn?

On Friday, July 22, the 68th National Film Awards winners were revealed. Ajay Devgn won Best Actor for ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’.

Vishal Veeru Devgan (born 2 April 1969) is an Indian actor, film director, and producer who works primarily in Hindi cinema. Devgn has appeared in over 100 films and received numerous awards, including three National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards. In 2016, the Government of India bestowed upon him the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian honour.

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Devgn was born into a Punjabi Hindu family from Amritsar, Punjab. The family has ties to the Hindi film industry in Mumbai. Veeru Devgan, Devgn’s father, was a stunt choreographer and action film director, and Veena, Devgn’s mother, is a film producer. Anil Devgan, his brother, is a screenwriter and filmmaker. Devgn attended Mithibai College after graduating from Juhu’s Silver Beach High School.

Devgn began a relationship with actress Karisma Kapoor while filming Jigar, but the couple split up in 1995. Devgn’s relationship with actress Kajol Mukherjee began that same year, while they were co-stars in ‘Gundaraj’.  Because of their opposing personalities, the media dubbed them “an unlikely pair.” 

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On February 24, 1999, the couple married at the Devgan home in a traditional Maharashtrian Hindu ceremony.  The couple has two kids. Nysa, their daughter, was born in 2003, and Yug, their son, was born in 2010.

Devgn began his professional career in 1991 with Phool Aur Kaante. He rose to prominence as an action hero, appearing in films such as ‘Jigar’ (1992), ‘Sangram’ (1993), ‘Dilwale’ (1994), and ‘Diljale’ (1995). 

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He went on to star in ‘Zakhm’ (1998), ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ (1999), ‘Company (2002), ‘Deewangee’ (2002), and ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’ (2002), all of which received critical acclaim (2002). Following the success of ‘Golmaal: Fun Unlimited’ (2006), he worked with Rohit Shetty on several action-comedies, including ‘Golmaal Returns’ (2008). ‘Total Dhamaal’ (2019) and ‘Tanhaji’ are two of his most successful films (2020).