Ajay Devgn: 'I Have Taken No Phase In My Life Seriously'

It’s been a long while since we have had Ajay Devgn with us. We’ve had our differences. We’ve grown- the both of us - the Star, and Stardust. And in an act of grace and maturity, he quelled the troubled past in a single sentence. And so it is that we’re celebrating a homecoming of sorts today. Our version of Singham Returns. We’ve shared a long leg of our journey in the past, over good times and bad. So, we celebrate a reliving of those times and coming together in the future.

Ajay is an ‘old-world’ guy. We love it. His loyalties run deep. So photographer Jitu Savlani, who knows Ajay really well, stylist Shaahid Amir who really makes Ajay look like a clotheshorse, Ajay’s long-time team of make-up artist Harish and hair stylist from Aalim Hakim, and Parag D, his friend and colleague and relationship manager, and myself, who’s known Ajay since seemingly forever (we actually counted, and it was 22 years) got together to make an event of it. A suite at the airport Taj was the scene of action, procured by the good graces of Ashok D, these days my BFF. Esvee and Darius who bailed her out, were the digital crew. Nawaz was the picture of efficiency as he kept the food and other requirements rolling. Ajay was relaxed, having just returned from a Swiss holiday with Kajol and the kids. But as he strolled in, he grimaced – “I would have shifted the photoshoot. Just after a holiday is so not the right time. I need to tone up.” The man looked perfectly lean. I told him so. He looked at himself and said, “I gave up a lot of my regular food restrictions. So I’ve put on muscle, but also fat.” But, I tell him, if not on a holiday, when then was one to indulge in these guilty pleasures? “I know, still…” he leaves it hanging. He’ll be back in shape in no time. He has a two-month long shooting schedule coming up.