When Ajay Devgn’s father asked Mahesh Bhatt to make him ‘actor’; filmmaker recalls meeting him on streets: ‘I saw it in his eyes’

When Ajay Devgn's father asked Mahesh Bhatt to make him 'actor'; filmmaker recalls meeting him on streets: 'I saw it in his eyes'

Oh my goodness! As an ardent fan of Bollywood, I simply can’t contain my excitement when it comes to delving into the rich tapestry of our beloved industry, and today, we find ourselves right in the heart of it all, with the enigmatic Ajay Devgn. This man, who burst onto the scene with Phool Aur Kaante, has not only left an indelible mark on Bollywood but has become one of its most revered figures.


Ajay Devgn, who made his debut in the Hindi film industry with Phool Aur Kaante back in 1991, is widely regarded as one of its most talented actors. In fact, Ajay was recently featured in Neeraj Pandey’s latest directorial project, Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha. It’s interesting to note that Ajay received advice from his father, Veeru Devgan, to collaborate with Mahesh Bhatt at some point in his career.

In a recent conversation with India Today, Mahesh Bhatt looked back on his past experiences while working as an assistant director for Mera Gaon Mera Desh and Veeru Devgan for the action sequences in the film. He shared that Veeru suggested casting his son, Ajay Devgn, in Bhatt’s future films.

The filmmaker expressed that he suggested I consider his son for a role in our project, mentioning that if he worked with us, he would likely excel and become an actor, given his natural talent and stardom.

For the uninitiated, Ajay emerges as a star with his first film Phool Aur Kaante.

Later on, Mahesh Bhatt discussed his initial encounter with Ajay Devgn in Juhu. He reminisced about pulling over his vehicle and addressing him directly on the street. The director disclosed a profound stillness in Ajay’s gaze and divulged that he had spoken to his father Veeru about their potential collaboration, which they subsequently confirmed.

He met my gaze, understanding that I was sincere, and I could tell by his eyes that he recognized that someday I would approach him, he noted.

Back then, Bhatt handed me the 1995 flick, Najaayaz, opposite the legendary Naseeruddin Shah. I remember being a bit star-struck working alongside him. Later, it was him who commended my acting in that very movie, a gesture that still warms my heart as a fan and an actor.

In addition to the lead role, Najaayaz featured stars like Juhi Chawla, Deepak Tijori, Ashish Vidyarthi, Gulshan Grover, and Reema Lagoo as well.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d say, “In the realm of Bollywood, my own significant contributions can be traced back to films such as Vijaypath, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Ishq, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Dilwale, and The Legend of Bhagat Singh, among others. Recently, I graced the silver screen alongside the talented Tabu in Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, which hit theaters on August 2. Unfortunately, it shared its release date with Ulajh, a film by the promising Janhvi Kapoor.”

Mahesh Bhatt has gained recognition for helming films such as Saaransh, Arth, Naam, Daddy, Jurm, Aashiqui, and Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin. (Helmed means directed)

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2024-08-03 16:37