Rajkumar Santoshi on Ajay Devgn: He is a very secure actor, success has not gone to his head – Exclusive – Times of India

Rajkumar Santoshi and Ajay Devgn have been a formidable director-actor pair. They have worked in four acclaimed films and all the movies have managed to impress both audiences and critics alike. Recalling their creative synergy Rajkumar Santoshi says, “I have directed Ajay in four films – Khakee, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Halla Bol and Lajja. He is a director’s actor. He transforms himself into the character. He played a dacoit in Lajja. He won the National Award for playing Bhagat Singh. He played a villain with pure negative shade in Khakee. He played all these characters with conviction. He trusts his director and goes all the way. He also supports his co-actors to do their best. He is a very secure actor.”
Ajay Devgn has also dabbled with direction on many occasions, his most recent directorials being Bholaa and Runway 34. Santoshi reveals Ajay has good script sense and adds, “He is a very hardworking actor. I enjoyed working with him. He understands the requirement of the script and the director. I wish him to achieve more and more success.”

Santoshi also praises Ajay versatility and says, “God has been kind. He has achieved success in comedies like Golmaal and action like Singham too. He is a very intelligent person. He understands technique.”
One of their most celebrated associations was on The Legend Of Bhagat Singh (2002). Recalling their collaboration on the historical, Santoshi says, “While doing Bhagat Singh, both of us were very sure about what we were doing. We had done a lot of research and planning. We were not making the film in a haphazard manner. We are proud of that film. The same thing was with Khakee. He didn’t have any insecurities being in a multi-starrer. Halla Bol didn’t work that well but he did a wonderful job transforming from a reel to a real star.”

Like many of Ajay Devgn’s peers Santoshi too is impressed by the ‘Singham’ star’s humility. Santoshi concludes, “He is very down-to-earth and humble. Success has not gone to his head. He is very respectful.”