A hero whose work is heavy, but the name always stays light—Ajay Devgn. His face is familiar, appearing in almost every other movie. But when it comes to the list of top actors or trending fandoms, Ajay’s name either gets skipped or becomes just a formality. But why? Well, I’m Rajeev Kumar, and in this video, I am going to talk about why Ajay Devgn is Bollywood’s most underrated superstar.

He’s an actor who always chooses roles according to his age, whose career graph is logical, but the audience either ignores him or just can’t relate. Why aren’t people going to theaters to watch his movies? The irony is that the person who is the most grounded is also the most overlooked.

So, if you’re new to YBP Filmy, make sure to subscribe to the channel, and if you’re a fan of Ajay Devgn, like this video right now. And if you’re not a fan, by the end of this video, you’ll be compelled to think about why you aren’t one. I bring videos like this every week. Also, this video is not clickbait. Yes, I admit that in the thumbnail, my hair was long, and now you see a bald head in the video, but something similar happened to me too. Ever since I got my hair cut, I often find myself touching my head, realizing there’s no hair. But, it was too hot, and I wanted to experiment with my look, so I finally got this haircut because you guys weren’t taking me seriously with long hair. Maybe now you’ll take me seriously.

So, let’s get started.

Almost 10 years ago, in 2015, “Drishyam” was released, which was a Hindi remake of the Malayalam blockbuster “Drishyam.” In this thriller, Ajay Devgn played the role of a middle-class cable operator who plays mind games with the entire system to protect his family. His performance was raw, grounded, and reminded everyone that he’s not just an action hero but also a powerhouse actor.

This film became an important turning point in Ajay’s career because after this, he started choosing layered and emotionally rooted roles that matched his age. These roles had practicality, maturity, and didn’t overdose on over-the-top heroism. Ajay Devgn’s mindset had already been shaped by 2015. Over the next five years, he chose roles that suited his age group, whether it was the honest IRS officer in “Raid,” the mature lover in “De De Pyaar De,” or the emotional father in “Shivaay.” In every role, he showcased his age as a strength, not a limitation.

Meanwhile, Bollywood superstars were either trying to find their way or looking for properties in the moon’s real estate. In 2018, “Raid” was based on a real-life income tax raid that took place in Kanpur in 1981, where ₹3.5 crore in cash and 26 kg of gold were recovered. Ajay Devgn played the role of Amay Patnaik, an honest IRS officer, a character loosely inspired by Sharda Prasad Pandey. The film had heavy content and was dialogue-driven, yet it earned ₹140 crore at the box office.

Ajay’s performance was restrained and powerful, creating an impact with just his eyes and body language, without any action or background music. It was one of those rare thrillers where the audience stayed glued to their seats with just intense writing, performance, and grounded storytelling. Still, the film couldn’t hold up against movies running on hype and budgets like “Race 3,” where logic took a backseat, or “Thugs of Hindostan,” where visuals were heavy, but the story lacked.

Then, during the COVID-19 period, “Taanaji” was released, which became the biggest blockbuster of 2020, earning ₹280 crore at the box office. It also won a National Award, and Ajay’s performance was so solid that the screen itself seemed to shake. Ajay was back in form.

However, after the hype, he went ahead with his next venture as a producer—”The Big Bull.” Despite a strong financial thriller storyline and a character inspired by Harshad Mehta, the film failed. The reason? The “Scam 1992” web series had already captured the public’s heart, making the film irrelevant in comparison. “The Big Bull” had an OTT release, and the comparison with the series ruined its chances at success. This was Ajay’s biggest miscalculation as a producer.

But then came a cameo in “Gangubai Kathiawadi,” which had a classic Ajay Devgn moment—his swagger, dialogues, everything was on point. The public went wild saying, “What a scene!” For those who remember his Sultan Mirza from “Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai,” this cameo was nostalgic.

Ajay’s cinematic reach hasn’t been limited to Bollywood; he also appeared in the mega film “RRR,” which made it to the Oscars. His role was small but impactful—a freedom fighter who encapsulated the essence of patriotism in one scene. “RRR” broke records worldwide, and Ajay quietly left his mark in that global moment.

Then came the 2024 film “Maidaan,” which was based on the life of legendary Indian football coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Despite challenges like multiple delays, the film showcased a lot of investment in large-scale football matches, period-accurate sets, and international-level visuals. Ajay gave an emotionally restrained and inspiring performance. Critics hailed the film, but at the box office, it failed, making only ₹50 crore from a ₹250 crore budget. Maybe audiences wanted more cinematic masala than football.

Even after being an actor, director, and producer, despite achieving global recognition, Ajay’s attitude of focusing only on work is a part of his personality. But the question is, why isn’t he fully accepted by the audience? Why isn’t the audience going to theaters to watch his movies?

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Ajay Devgn’s story teaches us that when the world is chasing trends and noise, the real victory lies in making one’s own silence a strength.