Thirty-four years since two bikes, one split, and Bollywood never quite recovered - but did Ajay Devgn almost quit before the magic struck?

It's November 1991, Ajay Devgn rides two Royal Enfields, roaring into Phool Aur Kaante like he owned the decade. That debut? Pure madness, really - fourteen other stars got tested for that role, yet it was Veeru Devgan's lanky son who nailed it. Flash-forward 34 years, and he's still kicking (literally, if you've caught Singham Again). But here's the kicker - somewhere amid all those blockbusters and four-shift days in the chaotic 90s, Ajay almost walked away. Yep, packed his bags mentally, done with the grind. Why? Let's dig in!

Ajay Devgn’s iconic entry scene in his debut movie Phool aur Kaante

Drowning in Success - Yes, It's Possible

So the 90s hit, and Ajay wasn't just busy - he was swamped, juggling 14-15 films at once like some kind of cinematic circus act. Four shifts daily! Imagine: 7 AM call time, wrap at noon on one set, throw on a different jacket, sprint to another studio, rinse, repeat till 3 or 4 AM. Then crash for two hours, wake up, do it again. Sounds glamorous? Maybe to fans. To him? It felt hollow.

Ajay in the 90s

He admitted - straight up, no sugarcoating - that he stopped enjoying the work. "I wasn't having fun anymore," he told an awards crowd, voice tinged with that rare Ajay honesty. When the guild stepped in, capping actors at 12 concurrent projects, he hit a wall. Not physically - mentally. "That was the point where I felt I didn't wanna do this," he confessed, slowing down to two, three films annually instead. Crazy, right? Peak stardom, and the guy's contemplating an exit.

The Lone Wolf Who Can't Open Up

Here's where it gets messier, though - and relatable. Ajay's introverted as hell. Always has been. In a candid 2022 chat during Runway 34 promotions, he spilled about therapy attempts that flopped because he just can't open up, even to professionals. "I sort things in my own head," he said, almost apologetically, like it's some flaw. That 90s burnout? Part of it was probably this - bottling pressure, running on fumes, no outlet. Millennials today got their mental health apps and meditation playlists; Ajay had silence. And work. Always more work.

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Yet ironically, he calls himself a workaholic. Two days into a family vacay with Kajol and the kids, he's antsy, craving sets again. It's that push-pull, you know? Love the craft, hate the machine. Tangent: ever wonder if his stoic on-screen vibe mirrors real-life walls? Maybe.

The Pivot - Less Quantity, More Quality

Post-burnout, Ajay flipped the script. Out went the assembly-line acting; in came selective projects - Zakhm, Company, later Tanhaji. He even dabbled in directing, producing, proving that range beats volume. That iconic two-bike entry? Still unmatched, but his legacy's now layered 6 action hero, comedian (Golmaal), intense drama king. Thirty-three years in 2024, 34 now in 2025, and he's thriving precisely because he almost quit.

Ajay's tale isn't just Bollywood lore - it's a memo on burnout dressed in leather jackets and stunts. He chose sanity over signing sprees, quality over clout.

So next time you binge Singham, remember: the dude behind those punches nearly ditched it all for peace.