Tag: Ajay Devgn

  • Ajay Devgn: Actors never chase the box-office, superstars do

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Ajay Devgn is all set to make her digital debut with the upcoming series ‘Rudra – The Edge of Darkness’, an Indian adaptation of the Idris Elba-starrer ‘Luther’. The star has talked about how there is no pressure of chasing box-office figures with the massive growth of the web-space.

    Ajay, who has entertained the audiences with his power-packed performances in his over the three-decade-long journey in Hindi cinema, says actors never chase the box-office, but superstars do.

    Asked if there is no pressure of chasing box-office numbers anymore courtesy the massive growth of the OTT space and films taking the digital route for releases, Ajay in a conversation with IANS said: “Actors never chase the box office. Superstars do.”

    For Ajay, it is the audiences’ love that matters.

    “For me, a film’s success is not always about the box office. I want appreciation. I want my honesty to get noticed. I strive for quality. Of course, the ticket window sales do help. It’s a bonus. However, numbers alone can’t dictate the way I work or what I strive for. As far as OTT’s rise goes, it’s phenomenal. Certain films will go directly to streaming platforms and even there you are anxious to know how it has been received. An actor or a performer is always anxious,” added the 52-year-old star.

    Ajay made his acting debut in 1991 with ‘Phool Aur Kaante’. He then rose to prominence as an action hero starring in successful films such as ‘Jigar’, ‘Sangram’ , ‘Dilwale’ and ‘Diljale’. He went on to give blockbusters like ‘Zakhm’, ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’, ‘Company’, ‘Golmaal’ franchise, ‘Singham’ franchise, ‘Bol Bachchan’ and ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’.

    How does he maintain staying ahead of the curve when it comes to his craft?

    The actor, who has won National Film Awards, said: “Staying ahead of a curve is not always a conscious decision. It’s all about accepting roles that I found attractive. When one breaks stereotypes, sometimes you tend to fall flat on the face. At other times, you soar. It’s a gamble. Yes, in my three-decade-long career, I’ve taken chances and I’ve followed my heart as far as what is right for me is concerned.”

    With tasting the highs of highs in success, what’s his biggest fear?

    Pat came the reply from Ajay: “Any performing artiste has only one fear. It goes-let my work find appreciation.”

    Moving forward, Ajay, who was he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 2016, has a motley of releases film lined up. He will be seen in ‘RRR’, ‘Runway 34’, ‘Maidaan’, ‘Cirkus’, ‘Thank God’ and ‘Drishyam 2’.

    Ajay feels no work pressure!

    He said: “I love work pressure. During the Pandemic when we were forced to sit back, I hated the slow, languid pace. I’m a person who performs best under pressure.”

  • Man blocks actor Ajay Devgn’s car in Mumbai over farmers protests, arrested

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: A 28-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly blocking actor Ajay Devgn’s car outside Film City in Goregaon and demanding to know why the latter had not spoken out in support of farmers protesting against the Centre’s new agri marketing laws, Mumbai police said.

    Rajdeep Singh, a resident of Santosh Nagar locality in the northern suburb, is a driver originally hailing from Punjab, one of the states from which a large number of farmers have gathered near Delhi for the protests, said an official.

    “The incident took place around 10:30 am. Singh stopped Devgn’s car and demanded to know why the actor had not spoken in support of the protesting farmers. A complaint was lodged by Devgn’s bodyguard Pradeep Indrasen Gautam after which Singh was arrested,” the Dindoshi police station official said.

    Singh was charged under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint) 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation), said Senior Inspector Dharmendra Kamble of Dindoshi police station.

  • Akshay, Ajay and others say ‘India against propaganda’ after Rihanna, Greta support farmers protest

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, filmmaker Karan Johar and Suniel Shetty on Wednesday said citizens should focus on the government’s efforts to resolve the ongoing farmer crisis rather than paying attention to “half truths” and those “creating differences.”

    Their comments came after the Ministry of External Affairs reacted sharply to comments by international pop star Rihanna, teen climate activist Greta Thunberg and others on farmers’ protests.

    In a statement, the MEA said a very small section of farmers in parts of the country have some reservations about the farm reforms and a proper understanding of the issue is needed before rushing to comment on the agitation.

    Rihanna, who has 100 million followers on Twitter and is among the most followed people on the microblogging site, on Tuesday tweeted, “why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest, linking a CNN report on the internet shutdown near the protest site.

    ALSO READ | Lilly Singh, Jay Sean, other celebrities join Rihanna in extending support to farmers’ protest in India

    Sharing the MEA statement on Twitter, Akshay said that the efforts by the government to solve the issue are “evident”.

    “Farmers constitute an extremely important part of our country. And the efforts being undertaken to resolve their issues are evident. Let’s support an amicable resolution, rather than paying attention to anyone creating differences. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda,” Kumar wrote.

    Devgn urged the people to be wary of “false propaganda against India or Indian policies”.

    “Don’t fall for any false propaganda against India or Indian policies. Its important to stand united at this hour w/o any infighting #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda” he posted.

    Johar said the country shouldn’t let “anyone divide us”.

    “We live in turbulent times and the need of the hour is prudence and patience at every turn. Let us together, make every effort we can to find solutions that work for everyone—our farmers are the backbone of India. Let us not let anyone divide us. #IndiaTogether” he said.

    Shetty also shared the MEA on Twitter, saying nothing is “more dangerous than half truth”.

    “We must always take a comprehensive view of things, as there is nothing more dangerous than half truth.#IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda” he said.

    Without naming anyone, singer Kailesh Kher said that anti-India can stoop to any level to defame the country.

    “Even in this sad phase of pandemic,India is helping all nations with vaccine supply for the sake of Humanity. Let all realise that India is ONE & will not tolerate comments against it. #IndiaTogether #IndiaAgainstPropaganda” he tweeted.

    On Tuesday night, international pop star Rihanna became the first global name to voice her support to the ongoing farmers agitation while criticising the internet shutdown at the protest site.

    Later, Thunberg, Swedish environmental activist, also backed the agitation, tweeting, “We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India.”

    In its response, the MEA said the Parliament of India passed the reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector, and noted that some of the vested interest groups have tried to mobilise international support against India.

    “We would like to emphasise that these protests must be seen in the context of India’s democratic ethos and polity, and the efforts of the government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse.

    The minister asserted that facts should be ascertained and a proper understanding of the issues must be taken “before rushing to comment on such matters”.

    “The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible,” the statement said.

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points since November last year, demanding the government to repeal the three farm laws and legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

    Sites of the farmer protest at Delhi’s borders have turned into fortresses with the police beefing up security and putting up multi-layer barricades to stop the movement of vehicles.

    Barbed wire has also been put up to keep off people on foot.

    The strengthened security measures at the agitation sites across the Delhi borders come after the violence during the Republic day tractor parade.