Vishal Bhardwaj (Director of Omkara): Ajay is the most versatile actor in Bollywood today and he has portrayed the character of Omkara surpassing my expectations. He is very down-to-earth and always willing to listen, to understand his character better. This is the first time I was working with him, but I am sure he will be part of my future projects, too. When I completed writing the film and approached Saif for the role of Cassio (Langda Tyagi), he said he wanted to play Othello. But then I knew it was only Ajay who could play this character. Only a person with that kind of intensity could play Othello.

Bipasha Basu (Costar in Omkara): As Billo [she is playing the character of a dancer by this name in Omkara] I had to dance with Viveik Oberoi and I did not have scenes with Ajay. But his performance is exuberant and mindblowing. He is not only a versatile actor, but a nice human being, too. I have earlier worked with him in Apaharan and Shikhar and have found that he is one actor who would take up any role and do it so convincingly that you would end up feeling this role was written for him and no one else would have done it more accurately.

Prakash Jha (Director of GangaaJal and Apaharan): Ajay is the only complete actor who is left with us today. His entire attitude towards acting is very economical. He will neither underdo, nor overdo any scene. His emotions are so perfect that you don’t get the chance to rectify him. He is spontaneous, he is consistent and he understands the need of a director very well. That’s what makes him so versatile an actor.

Kuku Kohli (Director of Ajay’s debut film, Phool Aur Kaante): Ajay has this natural expression in his eyes which is enough to mesmerise anyone. His eyes speak a lot for him and his eyes have a treasure of emotions in them. As far as his acting capabilities are concerned, I would put him in the same league as Raj Kapoor and Yusuf Saab [Dilip Kumar] who, too, were very expressive with their eyes. He was talented right from the very beginning — from the time of Phool Aur Kaante, but he has got further polished with time and experience. There are some actors who stop after a certain point and don’t grow further, but that’s not the case with Ajay and that’s what gives him a distinct place in the league of extraordinary actors.

Saif Ali Khan (Costar of Omkara): Ajay has not only suited the character of Omkara, but has also lived up to it. Working with him was simply great. I share a great rapport with him from the time of Kachche Dhaage and now after Omkara, it has further grown. Versatility is a small word for him. He has played a variety of characters and proved that.