Ajay Devgn turns 41

Ajay Devgn was born on 2 April 1969 in New Delhi. His real name is Vishal Veeru Devgan.

Ajay 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.

In August 2009, Devgan changed his last name to Devgn on the request of his mother, Veena.

On February 23 1999, he married fellow actress Kajol.

The couple have a five-year-daughter Nysa and reports are that the couple is expecting their second child.

Before marrying Kajol Ajay was reportedly linked with co-actor Raveena Tandon but there was no confirmation from either side.

He was also linked with actress Karisma Kapoor. Reports say it was during the filming of his film Dhanwaan that the two came close but nothing came out of these reports.

Devgan made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante (1991), in which he played the son of Amrish Puri. His performance won him a Filmfare Best Debut Award.

Many of his early movies were of action genre. He worked with director Deepak Bahry on the action film Ek Hi Raasta opposite Raveena Tandon.

Ajay then shifted focus to comedy films, such as Ishq in 1997.

In 1999, Ajay starred in Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, one of the biggest hits of that year.

Then came Mahesh Bhatt's Zakhm, the film that won him his first National Award for Best Actor.

Ajay saw further success in 1999 when Sanjay Leela Bhansali cast him opposite Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai for the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, which was a critical and commercial success. Ajay's performance in the film earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the Filmfare.

Ajay went on to be recognised for his association with filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, resulting in several successful projects. In 2002, the drama Company earned him his second Star Screen Award Best Actor.

Then came Rajkumar Santoshi's The Legend of Bhagat Singh which won him his second National Award for Best Actor.

In 2004, Ajay starred in several critically appreciated films, including Mani Ratnam's Yuva and Rituparno Ghosh's Raincoat.

In 2006, he played the title role in Vishal Bharadwaj's critically acclaimed adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, titled Omkara.

In 2007, Ajay was seen in Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, a remake of classic Sholay. The film was a major failure critically as well as commercially.

Ajay's first 2008 release, Halla Bol, was not a box office success,but his performance won appreciation from critics.

Next came Sunday, which performed average at the box office.

Ajay turned director with U, Me Aur Hum, in which he starred opposite his wife Kajol. The film received positive reviews and was moderately successful.