One Man, Ajay Devgn, Who Is Going Great Guns All On His Own

Ali Peter John

Thirty years ago there were four star kids studying in the same college, Bobby Deol, the younger son of Dharmendra, Shrishti and Goldie, the daughter and son of the well-known filmmaker Ramesh Behl and Vishal Devgn, the son of the veteran stunt coordinator Veeru Devgn. Bobby, Shrishti and Goldie saw dreams of making it as stars, but Vishal was only interested in making it as a director and he even made an amateur film during his college days...

They all grew up. Bobby was launched as a star by his father and brother, Sunny. Shrishti was not so sure and worked in a film for Tv with Sachin playing her father and has ended up as a film and TV producer and Goldie is a full time producer.

Vishal however continued with his passion for making films, but destiny had other plans for him. The well-known director, Kuku Kohli who was a friend of Vishal's father saw in Vishal an action hero and was successful in talking both the father and son into Vishal making his debut in a film called "Phool Aur Kaate". The most daring stunt scenes performed by Vishal who was now given the star name of Ajay and the music of Nadeem-Shravan turned out to be the major highlights and the film was a runaway hit  and Ajay Devgn was accepted as the new B grade stunt hero.

Ajay continued playing the stunt hero till he had almost every bone in his body broken and muscle torn. It was only after he did a film called "Haqeeqat" with Tabu as his heroine that the industry and the masses saw in him the first sparks of being a very romantic and intense actor and this image of his was established by him, his hard work and his determination to be recognised as an actor that made him shine in films like "Zakhm" for which he won his first National Award for the best actor. He played Shaheed Bhagat Singh which got him his second National Award and it was the beginning of one of the most successful careers in Indian cinema.

Ajay's career took a new turn when he did several romantic films with Kajol. People said they made an odd pair, but they proved to be a made for each other pair and did films till they fell in love and became Mr. and Mrs. Ajay Devgn and with time had a daughter, Nysa and a son, Yug.

Ajay was a very serious champion for the cause of Hindi cinema which saw his turning into a producer as the only way to fullfill his dream. It was while he was producing his films that he even matured as an actor and was recognised by the classes, the masses and even the critics. He then took his next big step when he took to directing his own films, his last big success being "Shivaay".

Ajay is a very down to earth man who has only one addiction and that is films, and better films. He has however not lost his roots as an entertainer and that is what he is proved all over again with“Total Dhamaal".

For a man of action and off-beat ideas, the place he has reached can only be the half way mark and Ajay has many more shots to fire and targets to aim at.

And as he reaches a peak he could never have dreamt of, I think of his father, the well-known action director, Veeru Devgn who was given the first break in“Kranti"by Manoj Kumar. Veeruji was a very concerned father who was always worried about his only son's future and besides training him as a stunt specialist, he visited every holy place and one Wednesday I found him at the Mahim church with his hands touching a statue of the Mother of Perpetual Succour with his eyes closed. There was a belief that anyone who prayed at this church for nine consecutive Wednesdays without a break would have their problems of any kind solved. I waited for Veeruji to finish praying and asked him what he was praying for and he said,“Mujhe sab kuch diya hai, Mother ne, ab meri ek hi khwaish hai ki mere bete, Vishal ka kuch ho jaaye". His dedication had paid off in a miraculous way, but look at the irony of life. Veeruji fell seriously sick when Ajay had made a place of his own and had also built a massive bungalow opposite the bungalow of Dharmendra, Veeruji was bed-ridden and he is said to be in a comatose state and does not know what is going on around him or to the family for which he had risked his life countless times...

There may be the Khans and the Kumars in the race for a place at the top, but Ajay is satisfied with running on his own track and knowing where his destination is.

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