Ajay Devgn, born Vishal Veeru Devgan, is a two-time National Award winning Hindi film actor, producer and director. He is widely regarded as one of the finest and most versatile actors, and having starred in over a hundred Hindi films, he has established himself as one of the leading actors and most popular stars in the country. He has been conferred numerous accolades, including 2 National Film Awards for Best Actor and most recently the Padma Shri, India"s fourth highest civilian honour, by the Government of India in 2016, in the field of Art - Cinema.

Early Life of Ajay Devgn
Ajay Devgn was born on April 2, 1969, in Delhi to a Punjabi family. His father Veeru Devgan is a former stunt choreographer and action director, while his mother Veena Devgan is a former film producer. His brother Anil Devgan is a Hindi film director. Ajay completed his schooling from Silver Beach High School in Juhu and graduated from Mithibai College, Mumbai.

Career of Ajay Devgn
Ajay Devgn made his debut as an actor in Bollywood with the commercial flick "Phool Aur Kaante" in 1991. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance. In his opening scene in the film, Ajay performed a split while balancing between two motorcycles, like a typical action hero. Following this, Ajay starred in many commercially successful movies, mostly action films, like "Jigar", "Sangram", "Bedardi", "Dilwale", "Suhaag", "Vijaypath", "Naajayaz", "Hulchul", "Gundaraj", "Haqeeqat", "Jaan", "Diljale" and others. He also featured in successful romantic comedy films like "Ishq", co-starring Aamir Khan, Kajol and Juhi Chawla, released in 1997 and "Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha", alongside Kajol in 1998.

Ajay Devgn was next seen in Mahesh Bhatt"s drama film "Zakhm", in which he portrayed a man fed up with religious conflict. The film"s plot focussed on the communal tension that was prevalent in the Mumbai riots. Ajay delivered a critically acclaimed performance, which also garnered him his first National Film Award for Best Actor. Ajay saw further success in 1999 when Sanjay Leela Bhansali cast him in his romantic drama "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", alongside Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The film earned unanimous critical appreciation and became a major box-office success. Ajay"s performance, of the character of Vanraj who helps his wife reunite with her lover, was widely praised. He was by this time established as an actor whose biggest forte was intense scenes, in which he brilliantly expressed. He later appeared in films such as "Kachche Dhaage", "Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet", "Gair" and in his first home production "Raju Chacha", which faired moderately at the box office.

In 2002, Ajay Devgn played a gangster in Ram Gopal Varma"s "Company", a fictional representation of the Mumbai underworld. His performance was critically acclaimed and won him the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. In the same year, he played the role of revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Rajkumar Santoshi"s biopic "The Legend of Bhagat Singh". The film and his performance were well received by critics, also earning him his second National Film Award for Best Actor. The film is a cult classic today. He was seen in the successful psychological thriller "Deewangee" in which he played a negative role. His performance was again lauded by critics, while also earning him the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role and several other awards. He next featured in versatile roles of varied dramatic range in subsequent films "Bhoot", "Qayamat: City Under Threat", "Gangaajal", "Main Aisa Hi Hoon", "Khakee", "Yuva", "Masti", "Zameen", "Insan" "Tango Charlie", "Blackmail", "Shikhar", "LOC Kargil", "Omkara" and "Apaharan". For his performance in "Apaharan", he was nominated for the National Film Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

Ajay Devgn has since maintained his strong hold in the box office, portraying a vast range of roles, from comedy in Rohit Shetty"s "Golmaal" film series to action in the "Singham" film series. He also ventured into film direction when he produced and directed romantic drama "U Me Aur Hum", released in 2008, in which he featured alongside Kajol. His performance as well as his direction earned positive reviews. He has also been featuring in many commercially successful films, like "Raajneeti" (2010), "Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai" (2010), "Golmaal 3" (2010), "Singham" (2011), "Drishyam" (2015), while also producing and featuring in successful films, like "Bol Bachchan" (2012), "Son Of Sardaar" (2012), "Singham Returns" (2014), produced under his production house banner Ajay Devgn Films. He will be next seen in his own production and directorial magnum opus "Shivaay" scheduled for a worldwide Diwali release in 2016, in Milan Luthria"s "Baadshaho" and in the sequel of "Son Of Sardaar" slated for a Diwali 2017 release.

Awards and Honours received by Ajay Devgn
Ajay Devgn, in his illustrious career of 25 years, has been honoured with the following laurels.


•Padma Shri, India"s fourth highest civilian honour, by the Government of India in 2016, in he field Art - Cinema
•National Film Award for Best Actor for "Zakhm" in 1998
•National Film Award for Best Actor for "The Legend of Bhagat Singh" in 2002
•Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for "Phool Aur Kaante" in 1992
•Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for "Company" in 2003
•Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role for "Deewangee" in 2003
•Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role for "Deewangee" in 2003
•Star Screen Award for Best Actor for "Zakhm" in 1998
•Star Screen Award for Best Actor for "Company" in 1998
•Star Screen Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role for "Deewangee" in 2002
•Stardust Star Of The Year Award (Male) for "Company" in 2002
•Stardust Award for Best Actor - Comedy/Romance for "All the Best" in 2009
•Stardust Award for Best Actor - Thriller/Action for "Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai" in 2010

Personal Life of Ajay Devgn
Ajay Devgn tied the knot with his contemporary co-actress Kajol on February 24, 1999, in a traditional Maharashtrian ceremony at the Devgan home. The couple have two children, a daughter named Nysa, born in April 2003 and a son named Yug, born in September 2010. The couple stored their newborn son`s umbilical cord blood and tissues, to act as a source of stem cells in case of serious ailment. In August 2009, Ajay changed the spelling of his surname from Devgan to Devgn, at the request of his family. He was the first Bollywood personality to own a private jet, for transport to shooting locations, promotions and personal trips.

Selected Filmography of Ajay Devgn
Ajay Devgn has worked in a wide range of films in his 25-year career, most of which, along with the years of release, are highlighted hereunder.