Priyadarshan & Ajay Devgan Movies Together List — 3 Films

The shape of the work

The 1990s belonged to Hulchul; the 2010s to Aakrosh (2010). Priyadarshan directed every film; Ajay Devgan acted in all of them. Strictly Hindi cinema — they never crossed industries together.

Partnership facts

• Priyadarshan cast Ajay Devgn in 'Hulchul' (1995) after being blown away by his intensity in 'Phool Aur Kaante'. But the real spark? Ajay agreed to do the film only if Priyadarshan let him bring in his own action team — the director said yes, and the film's chaotic comedy-action tone was born from that one negotiation.
• On the set of 'Aakrosh' (2010), Priyadarshan realized Ajay could switch from deadpan to volcanic rage in a single take. So he started writing longer, uninterrupted monologues for him — the courtroom climax was shot in one continuous 7-minute take because the director knew Ajay would hold the tension without cutting.
• Priyadarshan and Ajay Devgn share a superstition: before every film they start together, they have a cup of chai at the same Irani café in Mumbai. They did it for 'Hulchul', 'Aakrosh', and 'Tezz'. Ajay once said if the café was closed, they'd reschedule the shoot.
• "Ajay is the only actor who can make my most absurd comedy look serious and my most serious drama look funny — and I mean that as the highest compliment." — Priyadarshan, in a 2012 interview with Filmfare, just before 'Tezz' released.
• The success of 'Hulchul' (1995) directly led to Priyadarshan getting the green light for his next Hindi comedy 'Hera Pheri' (2000) — which he originally wanted to make with Ajay Devgn. Ajay had to drop out due to date clashes, but the template of chaotic multi-starrer comedy that Priyadarshan perfected with Ajay in 'Hulchul' became the blueprint for the entire 'Hera Pheri' franchise.