‘I’ve never tried to run anybody down’

Actor Ajay Devgn is a man of few words, and what he has to say, he says it straight out. In the 25 years that he has been a part of Bollywood, many people have tried to draw him into controversies, but Ajay isn’t bothered by any of it. “Facts are facts, and some people distort them. People who know me know that I’ve never done anything to run anybody down. I have never got into a controversy for the heck of it,” he says.

Ajay was embroiled in a controversy concerning his 2016 film Shivaay, which had clashed with director Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. He had accused certain people of trying to bring his film down. It was rumoured that this had led to his wife Kajol ending her friendship with Karan. Kajol and KJo, however, bonded recently over KJo’s twin babies.

Ajay continues, “Also, in these 25 years, I’ve only had problems with people who didn’t know me. There’s not even one person who has worked with me and had a problem with me.”

At 48, Ajay remains a major star, but his latest release, Baadshaho, didn’t do as well as expected. He acknowledges the fact that Bollywood is going through a lean phase, with even films starring superstars stumbling at the box office. “The audience has become unforgiving — I think we all need to be conscious and careful,” admits Ajay.

While every actor hopes for hits and is affected by failures, Ajay says that he has “never been bothered about the superstar status”. His best lesson, learned from his father, has been to “be honest with your work”.

PHOTO: RAAJESSH KASHYAP/HT Actor Ajay Devgn says that all the problems he has faced were with people who didn’t know him