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Ajay Devgn, born Vishal Veeru Devgan (विशाल देवगन, Punjabi: ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲ ਦੇਵਗਨ), 2 April 1969 in New Delhi, India), and formerly known as Ajay Devgan, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.

He made his film debut with "Phool Aur Kaante" in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance in the film. He then starred in numerous successful films including, "Jigar"(1992), "Dilwale" (1994), "Naajayaz"(1995), "Diljale"(1996) and "Ishq"(1997). Devgan received his first National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Mahesh Bhatt's drama "Zakhm"(1998). Some of his later films of the decade includes "Pyar To Hona Hi Tha", "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" and "Kachche Dhaage".

In the early 2000s, his work included "Lajja"(2001) and "Company"(2002). He won his second National Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Bhagat Singh in Rajkumar Santoshi's biopic "The Legend of Bhagat Singh"(2002). He then worked in several critically appreciated films including, "Khakee"(2004), Rituparno Ghosh's "Raincoat"(2004), Mani Ratnam's "Yuva"(2004), Vishal Bhardwaj's "Omkara"(2006) and Raj Kumar Santoshi's "Halla Bol". He also starred in commercial films including, "Kaal"(2005), "Golmaal"(2006), "Golmaal Returns"(2008), "All The Best: Fun Begins"(2009), "London Dreams"(2009) "Raajneeti"(2010) and "Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai"(2010).

In 2008, he ventured into directing as well with "U, Me Aur Hum", which saw him starring in the lead role alongside his wife, actress Kajol.

Biography
Devgn and his family originate from Punjab. His father, Veeru Devgan, is a stunt choreographer, and his mother, Veena Devgan, has produced one film. Anil Devgan, his brother, is a Bollywood film director. He is a graduate of Bappu School in Juhu and Mithibai College. On February 23, 1999, he married actress Kajol. They have a daughter named, Nysa Devgan, who was born in April, 2003. In August 2009, Devgan changed his last name to Devgn on the request of his mother, Veena.

1990s
Ajay Devgn made his debut in bollywood with the film "Phool Aur Kaante" (1991), the film was huge commercial success. He won Filmfare Best Male Debut Award for his performance. His debut success followed by "Jigar"(1992), in which he was starred alongside Karishma Kapoor. This film was also an huge commercial hit. In 1993, he worked in several films but they did not succeded at the box office.

In 1994, Devgn made his come back with Harry Baweja's directional debut "Dilwale", the film was huge commercial hit. He next worked in "Suhaag" opposite Akshay Kumar and Karisma Kapoor, in which he was co-starred for first time with Akshay Kumar. This film was hit at the box office. Next was "Vijaypath" opposite Tabu, this film also done very well at the box office. In the year 1995, he worked in Mahesh Bhatt's much acclaimed film "Naajayaz", for which he was nominated "Filmfare Best Actor Award". The film faired well at the box office. He next featured in action thriller "Haqeeqat" alongside Tabu, this film also performed very well at the box office.

In 1996, he continued the success with Harry Baweja's "Diljale", the film was appreciated critically and it was also a commercial hit. He then starred in "Jaan" opposite Twinkle Khanna, this film did not done well at the box office. He soon began starring in comedy films, such as "Ishq" in 1997. In this film he he was starred with Aamir Khan for first time, the film was huge commercial success. He then worked in "Itihaas", which was an average fair at the box office.

In 1998, he starred in "Major Saab". In this film he was featured with Amitabh Bachchan for first time, the film was roaring success at the box office. He then starred in Anees Bazmee's "Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha" opposite Kajol, this film was huge commercial hit at the box office and recieved critical acclaim also. He next starred in Mahesh Bhatt's "Zakhm", this film did not succeded at the box office. Though he won several awards for his performance, including the National Film Award for Best Actor.

In 1999, he worked in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam". In this film he was paired for first time with Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai duo, this film was huge commercial success at the box office. And he was nominted "Filmfare Best Actor Award" for his performance. He then featured in "Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet", this film was hit at the box office.

In the same year he worked in director Milan Luthria's debut film "Kachche Dhaage" opposite Manisha Koirala and Saif Ali Khan. This film was also a hit at the box office. Next was "Hindustan Ki Kasam", in which he was starred alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Manisha Koirala. This film was a moderate success. He then starred in Govind Nihalani's "Thakshak", the film was not well recieved by audiences. Though it was highly appreciated by critics.

2000-03
In 2000, he worked in Harry Baweja's "Deewane". In this film, he essayed the role of two persons, where one is thief and another is police officer. The film was a flop at the box office. In the same year, he starred in his first home production film "Raju Chacha" opposite his wife Kajol. The film also bombed at the box office due to it's high costs and production.

In the year 2001, he starred in "Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke" co-starring Madhuri Dixit and Priety Zinta.This film was an average grosser at the box office. His next release "Lajja" alongside Manisha Koirala, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor, for which he won "Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award". the film performed very well at the box office. He then worked in Mahesh Manjrekar's "Tera Mera Saath Rahen" opposite Namrata Shirodkar and Sonali Bendre, the film was appreciated critically, but not recieved well by audiences.

In 2002, he was featured in Ram Gopal Verma's fictional expose of Mumbai Underworld "Company"(film). The film was loosly based on D-Company, in this film he played the character called 'Malik'. He was much appreciated, for which he was nominated "Filmfare Best Actor Award" and won "Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance". The film faired well at the box office. His next release "Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin" alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Aishwarya Rai, faired priety well at the box office.

In the same year, he starred in Rajkumar Santoshi's biopic "The Legend of Bhagat Singh". The film didn't faired well at the box office, while his performance in the film was appreciated hugely by the critics. And he won "Filmfare Best Actor Award" as well as his second "National Film Award for Best Actor" for his performance. He then starred in Anees Bazmee's "Deewangee", the film was partially inspired by William Diehl's English Language novel "Primal Fear". He won several awards for his negative role including, "Filmfare Best Villain Award", "Star Screen Award Best Villain" and "Zee Cine Award Best Actor in a Negative Role". This film was a mild success at the box office.

In 2003, he starred in Ram Gopal Verma's "Bhoot" opposite Urmila Matondkar, the film was appreciated critically. This film performed very well at the box office. He then starred in action thriller "Qayamat: City Under Threat" opposite debutant Neha Dhupia, this film was huge commercial success,  due to the use of high tecknology gadgets and it's well filmed action sequences. He then worked in Milan Luthria's romantic film "Chori Chori" opposite Rani Mukherji and Sonali Bendre, this film did not succeded at the box office.

In that same year he featured in Prakash Jha's much acclaimed film "Gangaajal", for which he was nominated "Filmfare Best Actor Award". This film got good response from audiences and became hit at the box office. He then worked in Rohit Shetty's directional debut "Zameen", this film faired priety well at the box office. Followed by J. P. Dutta's war film "LOC Kargil", this one was based on kargil war(1999), it was also an attempt to dramatize kargil conflict(Operation Vijay). This film did not recieved much acclaim by audiences and critics as well.

2004-07
In 2004, he featured in Raj Kumar Santoshi's crime thriller "Khakee" alongside Amitabh Bachchan Akshay Kumar an Aishwarya Rai, generally the film recieved positive reviews from the critics and audiences. This film performed very well at the box office. Then he made special appearence in Indra Kumar's comic venture "Masti", in this film he essayed the role of a police inspector who. This film was also a huge commercial success at the box office. He next worked in Mani Ratnam's acclaimed film "Yuva" alongside Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukherji, Vivek Oberoi, Kareena Kapoor and Esha Deol. For which he got appreciation from the critics while the film did not accepted well by the audiences. Next was Abbas Mustan's "Taarzan: The Wonder Car", in which he made special appearence as a car designer killed by someone. This film didn't performed well at the box office. In that same year he also starred in Rituparno Ghosh's "Raincoat" opposite Aishwarya Rai, he recieved much acclaim for his performance.

In the year 2005, he first worked in Mani Shankar's "Tango Charlie" co-starred with Bobby Deol, the film got rave reviews upon the release. Where the film was flop at the Indian box office, the film got it's recoveries from the sale of cassetes in U.S market. He then starred in "Kaal" alongside John Abraham, Vivek Oberoi, Lara Dutta and Esha Deol, the film was produced by Shahrukh Khan's production company "Red Chillies Entertainment". he was nominated "Filmfare Best Villain Award" for his performance, this film was a moderate success at the box office. Next was Harry Baweja's "Main Aisa Hi Hoon" opposite Sushmita Sen and Esha Deol, he played the roll of mentally handicapped man who works as a waiter in a coffee shop. The film is said to be the hindi remake of I Am Sam(2001) but producer denied it always. The film won appreciation from the critics but was an average grosser at the box office.

In that same year, he featured in Prakash Jha's "Apaharan" alongside Nana Patekar and Bipasha Basu, for which he was nominated "Filmfare Best Actor Award". This film was commercial success at the box office. His next release was John Matthew Matthan's "Shikhar" alongside Shahid Kapoor and Bipasha Basu, he was praised for his performance while the film didn't performed well at the box office.

In 2006, he starred in Rohit Shetty's first comic venture "Golmaal", the film went on to do very well at the box office. He then played the title role in Vishal Bhardwaj's "Omkara" opposite Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and Vivek Oberoi, this one was an adaption of Shakespeare's Othello. The film was appreciated worldwide and he was nominated "Filmfare Best Actor Award". This film did not performed too well at the Indian box office while it was a huge commercial success in overseas market.

In the year 2007, he worked in bollywood action film "Cash" directed by Anubhav Sinha, the film did not accepted well by critics as well as audiences. He then featured in Ram Gopal Verma's Aag alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Mohanlal, this film is said to be the remake of 1975 hit Sholay. The film bombed at the box office due to it's overshadowed characters.

2008-present
In 2008, he starred in Rajkumar Santoshi's critically acclaimed Halla Bol. This film did not succeded at the box office. He then worked Rohit Shetty's another comic venture Sunday, the film didn't performed well at the box office.

In that same year, he made his directional debut with the film U Me Aur Hum, starring himself opposite his wife Kajol. His directional debut was appreciated by the critics, while the film performed exceptionally well at the box office, as it was released on limited screens. He then featured in the sequel of 2006 hit Golmaal known as Golmaal Returns. The film took tremendous opening in india, surpassing many records made by other films at the indian box office.

In the year 2009, he first worked in his home production film All The Best: Fun Begins alongside Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu in lead roles. This film was released during diwali with mixed response but later it became superhit at the box office due to it's good reports. He next starred in Vipul Shah's London Dreams alongside Salman Khan and Asin Thotumkal, the film did not faired well at the box office.

In 2010, he first starred in the light-hearted comedy film Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge opposite Konkona Sen Sharma, the film went on to do very well at the box office. He then starred in Prakash Jha's multi-starrer film Raajneeti, the film is considered among one of the highest grossing films in history of indian cinema.

He then worked in Milan Luthria's period film Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai alongside Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut, the film is said to be based on the life of india's first smuggler Haji Mastan. The film is a huge commercial success at the box office.

Joining Bhojpuri Cinema
In 2006, Devgn joined hands with reigning 'bhojpuri' superstar Manoj Tiwari for his one and only bhojpuri feature film "Dharti Kahe Pukaar Ke". In this film, he essayed the role of Superintendent of Police. The film was entirely based in bihar and showed the atrocities people face there. Upon it's release, this film recieved good response around all over india.

Stunts and Mixed Martial Artist
Devgn performs most of the stunts of his films. He is most prominently known for performing hard action sequences.

He is also an mixed martial artist and uses his abilities in his action films. The trend of martial arts in bollywood film was started by his debut film "Phool Aur Kaante"(1991), in which he performed martial art and daredevil stunts in many of the action sequences. Now he is one of the few bollywood actors, who performs stunts in his regular films.

Awards and nominations
Among other awards and nominations, Devgn has won two National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards.