Tryst with fame came early for Ajay Devgn, with his very first film. All it took him were 2 hikes and an idea to make it happen in Bollywood. Ajay Devgn's entry in Phool Aur Kaante might have been ludicrous but certainly caught the eyeballs he needed.
With his surly disposition, it would have been difficult to get him a run-of-the-mill hero role but despite all the odds being against him - he did wonders. Girls fell in love with him when there were the likes of Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and of course, Akshay Kumar onscreen too.
Like his wife, Kajol puts it it’s his silent brooding personality and soulful eyes that first melted her heart. The couple went from hating each other, to being very good friends and eventually husband and wife but everything wasn’t always rosy in their paradise.
Soon after their wedding on February 24, 1999 there were rumours about how Kajol wasn’t getting along with her mother-in-law Veena and alleged affairs of Ajay were set to crumble their marriage. But the only time Ajay spoke about what’s actually happening within the walls of the Devgn house was when he spoke about losing their first child in 2001.
Through the raw pain the couple healed and have two wonderful children Nysa and Yug but the media has never been kind to the kids. Yet, one thing Ajay maintains is his dignity through it all. No matter how low the blow is Ajay is the inherent Singham who grows mightier with each wound.
What people see is the fact that he has received 32 awards, including four National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, one Zee Cine Award and four awards each from Screen and Stardust awards.
They see his net worth of INR. 534 Crores (approximately US$63 million) reported last year that serves as a testament to his unparalleled talent and unwavering dedication to his craft.
While awards and accolades accolades are public knowledge, many forget how he has built careers of friends like Rohit Shetty, Haakim Aalim. He isn’t bothered about the fact that once his contemporary Akshay Kumar has the net worth of over INR. 2000 Crores (approximately $250 million) he instead wants to direct films and leave a legacy behind.
Just like his favourite actor-director-producer Clint Eastwood-he wants to master the art of multitasking. But the these dreams be wants to achieve on his own terms.
Don’t make him do the song-and-dance routine, don’t make him do gimmicky publicity and certainly don’t take his relaxed evenings away from him. After 6pm-It is just his drink, his kids and his family time and no one can take over.
He makes no bones about the fact that he enjoys his cigarettes and his vodka-your opinion about It, is not welcomed and certainly not heeded. Unlike other actors, he doesn’t believe in being politically correct or lie just to make the right noise. Though many of has contemporaries enjoy their drmks, it is only Ajay who speaks about his journey from ‘rum and coke’ to scotch and how and he settled for vodka as his preferred drink, Apparently, he gets a hangover with scotch no matter how little he consumes of it.
Despite his smoking and drinking. The actor often amazes his doctors for being so healthy and fit. But ask him if he wants to flaunt his abs for the camera, the answer in a No! “I don’t work towards six-pack abs. I prefer a toned look,” he says. “A tough body should look like a tough body: My workout depends on the situation I am in. I ask myself “What’s the urgency to reach the target.”
That’s Ajay, he is the proverbial tortoise who sets his own pace and wins the race.
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