Sajid Khan On Ajay Devgn: Over The Next Ten Years, I See Him Moving Into The Liam Neeson Category

Twenty five years ago a superstar was born at the box office. For him it was a fight akin to David’s tryst with Goliath. The lanky, dark, young actor was pitted against the combined might of Yash Chopra, Anil Kapoor and Sridevi who looked poised to dominate the box-office with Lamhe. But instead Phool Aur Kante emerged the surprise winner in this bout. And the credit went to the charismatic debutante, Ajay Devgn.


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Yes, Ajay Devgn completes 25 years in the film business and in a conversation with SpotboyE.com, his close friend, director Sajid Khan gave a sneak peek into the jitters Ajay had before the release of Phool Aur Kaante and the two defining films that propelled him to stardom.

 ‘In Our Group, Ajay Was Always A Star’

Can’t believe that it’s been 25 years for Ajay Devgn in the film industry - does not feel like it. I remember, we were all very excited with the release of the film. When we saw the trailer, we all knew that the film was going to work because of the unique story of the bonding between the gangster father and the renegade son. Plus, the music had become a rage even before the release of the film. But Ajay was very nervous about whether he will be accepted. I remember people were clapping for his entry scene, but the real applause came in the bathroom fight sequence. After the bathroom fight was over, that was the time when people had more or less accepted him as a new star. So we did not have to wait for the second half of the film to realize that the film has worked and Ajay had become a star.  


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In our group Ajay was always a star. The way he used to walk, the way he used to walk, his Jeep, the way he used to wear his white shirt, blue jeans and black boots with his Ray Ban glasses and cigarette in his mouth – screamed style and substance. We always knew that he was going to be a star but his inclination was also towards filmmaking. Ajay used to assist Veeru uncle at his edits. His dad used to edit all the action at Ajay Devgn Films. He knew how to operate a deck and that was a great achievement for a 20 year old. We knew Phool Aur Kaante will be a hit but we never knew that it would be such a big hit.

We met through a common friend called Sameer Arya and I had met Sameer Arya at Javed Saab’s house. We both bonded over films and Sameer knew that I was very filmi and did mimicry. Later he introduced me to his group at Kalumal building where Ajay used to stay and then I realized that they were all part of Ajay’s gang. And later we also realized that we all are in the same college – Mithibai College. From then onwards, I spent all my days with the same gang. We were like four five guys. College saath mein jaate the, fir college ke baad ghumna, masti karna, Carter Road, Bandstand, club mein jaana we did everything together. We used to meet around 11 at Ajay’s dad’s office and then used to sit in his jeep and roam around like gundas. We used to go to college to fool around, no one attended lectures in college. We used to watch films together and everyone’s cigarette account was in Ajay’s name. Everyone used to get one packet of cigarette from the Paanwaala who had Ajay’s account.


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Phool Aur Kaante was clashing with Lamhe at the box office and Lamhe was a much anticipated film because it starred Sridevi who had just delivered the hit Chandni with Yash Chopra. Also Lamhe was a very offbeat subject. It’s said that had Lamhe released today, it would have been a very big hit with the multiplex culture. People never expected Phool Aur Kaante to be bigger than Lamhe. Lamhe was a big film and Phool Aur Kaante was a film that had newcomers. Phool Aur Kaante had a new boy and a new girl apart from a new producer. The only thing going for Phool Aur Kaante before its release was the music. The music had caught on in a very big way. We often discussed this among ourselves that even if Phool Aur Kaante recovered its money, it would be a big deal for us. But nobody expected the film to become a runaway blockbuster.

Ajay’s filmi career witnessed two changes which I think were important changes. The first one was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. This film got his action image out and he went from a massy window to a classy window with family audiences. And much later came Singham. I think Singham propelled him into superstardom. It was like Salman was always a star but Wanted and Dabangg made him into a superstar. Singham did that much later in Ajay’s career. Before that, the kind of appreciation he got and especially the love from ladies for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was unprecedented. HDDCS was seen by all and was a blockbuster.


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As far as my film Himmatwala is concerned, see my thing was that he and I were always discussing  doing a film together. We met after Heyy Babyy and then again after Housefull and then again after Housefull 2. Vashu Bhagnani had already signed him. This was around when Singham had just released and we were talking about what we should do and I said that from my childhood days I am such a big ‘Jitendra-Himmatwala’ fan, and then Ajay added that his dad had done action for Himmatwala. And it was then I suggested that why don’t we do a remake of Himmatwala? Ajay immediately okayed my suggestion and also added that let’s do a hardcore action film. I am unhappy that somewhere I let him down; I wish I could give him a blockbuster hit as a friend more than a filmmaker. But I still think, the way I presented him in Himmatwala was nothing less than a superstar. None of his fans felt cheated with his presentation in Himmatwala and I treated him like the superstar that he is. But Himmatwala’s entire blame should come on me and not on anybody else.


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In his 25 years, the kind of work that Ajay has done and the kind of accolades he has received, he has also won hearts as an actor of great competence who can dabble in various genres. He has even done negative roles in movies like Khakee and Deewangee. It does not feel like 25 years and I pray and wish for the sake of his fans and that he crosses another 25 with equal aplomb. In the next ten years I see him successfully moving into a Liam Neeson category. Here is wishing him another 25 years.

(As Told To Abhishek Srivastava) 

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