Ajay Devgn Birthday: Here's Why The Actor Changed His Name Before Entering Bollywood

Ajay Devgn Birthday: Among Bollywood's most renowned actors is Ajay Devgn. We all consider the Drishyam actor to be our action hero because he has given us many hits! Even though the actor has turned a year older today, he is still as charming as he was in the entertainment business. However, did you know that Ajay Devgn is not the actor's real name? Surprised right? To learn more, scroll down.

Here's Why The Actor Changed His Name Before Entering Bollywood

During an interview with Mayank Shekhar for a Sit with HITLIST episode, Mid-Day, Ajay Devgn disclosed how he was essentially forced to work on his 1991 first film Phool Aur Kaante and the reason for his decision to alter his name from Vishal to Ajay.

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"One fine evening, I came home to find [director] Sandesh Kohli sitting with dad. My father had always wanted me to be an actor, train in action. He told me that Kohliji was doing a film [Phool Aur Kaante] and he wanted me to be in it. My first reaction was, 'Are you mad? I am 18, enjoying life.' I flatly refused it. This was in October, 1990. By November, I was shooting ¡ª practically pushed into it. I did my debut film with the attitude that if it works, good. I will work very hard. But if it doesn't work, I won't roam around with a portfolio. I'll go back to filmmaking. But the film worked. Ever since, there hasn't been any time to sit and think. He had said.

"Even my father. When he came from Punjab, he wanted to be an actor; but he ended up being a fighter. Maybe that's why he wanted me to be an actor. My father was very close to Manoj (Kumar) saab, and was also second unit director with him. Manoj saab gave dad his first break as an action director. Yes, but I don't think any of us were doing it [with the idea of] trying to fulfill our parents' dreams. If they wanted us to do that, of course, we would. But at 18-19, none of us cared much. Like I said, I was forced into it."

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Talking about why he changed his name, the actor had said, ¡°In 1991, a couple of actors with the name Vishal were being launched. One of them was Manoj (Kumar) saab's son. There was major confusion. One of us had to change our name. So I did!"

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