Devgn next collaborated with Rituparno Ghosh in the relationship drama "Raincoat", with Aishwaraya Rai. The film is an adaptation of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi". "Raincoat" met with wide critical acclaim and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Devgn was praised for his performance. Rediff said: "Hesitation, desperation, humiliation – Ajay Devgn conveys them eloquently. His Manoj is no cool dude, but just another lower middle-class guy in misery, with whom none would like to switch place. He particularly stands out in the scenes where he cries in the bathroom, or begs Neeru not to marry someone else." In 2004, Devgn was also seen in a cameo appearance in "".