Ajay Devgn

Vishal Virender Devgan, known professionally as Ajay Devgn, is an Indian actor, director, and producer who works primarily in Hindi cinema. Having appeared in more than 100 feature films, he is recognized as one of the prominent figures in Indian entertainment. Over the course of his career, Devgn has received four National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, and the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, which was bestowed upon him by the Government of India in 2016.

Devgn was born on April 2, 1969, in New Delhi to a Punjabi Hindu family originating from Amritsar. His family had established ties to the Hindi film industry in Mumbai; his father, Virender "Veeru" Devgan, worked as an action-film director and stunt choreographer, while his mother, Veena Devgan, was a film producer. Devgn completed his schooling at Silver Beach High School in Juhu and pursued higher education at Mithibai College. Upon entering the film industry, he adopted the screen name Ajay to distinguish himself from other actors named Vishal who were entering cinema at the time. In 2009, he adjusted the spelling of his surname to Devgn following a request from his family.

Devgn made his acting debut in the 1991 action romance Phool Aur Kaante, which earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut and established him as a leading performer. Throughout the 1990s, he built a reputation as an action star through productions such as Jigar, Dilwale, Suhaag, Vijaypath, and Diljale. He also achieved commercial success in romantic and comedic roles, including Ishq and Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha. In 1998, his performance in the dramatic film Zakhm earned him his first National Film Award for Best Actor. He achieved further acclaim the following year for his role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's musical romance Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.

During the 2000s, Devgn expanded his repertoire into complex dramatic and antagonistic roles. He received critical praise for his work in Ram Gopal Varma's crime drama Company and earned his second National Film Award for Best Actor for playing the titular revolutionary in Rajkumar Santoshi's historical biopic The Legend of Bhagat Singh. His role as a villain in Deewangee earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Villain. His other notable projects during this decade included Gangaajal, Khakee, the drama Raincoat, Apaharan, and the Shakespearean adaptation Omkara.

In 2010, Devgn experienced a commercial resurgence with hits such as Golmaal 3, Raajneeti, and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. He subsequently led several successful film franchises and major releases, including Singham, Bol Bachchan, Drishyam, Raid, and Total Dhamaal. His performance in the 2020 historical drama Tanhaji won him a third National Film Award for Best Actor. Beyond acting, he established his production company, Ajay Devgn FFilms, in 1999. In his personal life, Devgn married actress Kajol in 1999, with whom he has two children, and he is a practising Shaiva Hindu.