Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who turns 51 today, is perhaps the only actor who has limited himself to one movie a year
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who turns 51 today, is perhaps the only actor who has limited himself to one movie a year - and what a movie it always turns out to be - Aamir's last offering PK broke all records to emerge as the highest-earning Bollywood film of all time with collections estimated at more than Rs 700 crore worldwide.
On his 51st birthday, here's a pictorial look at Mr Perfectionist's life and career so far.
Aamir Khan is the second generation of a filmy family. His father was film producer Tahir Hussain. His uncle Nasir Hussain was also a famous film producer, director and actor. A third uncle, Tariq, acted in movies like Yaadon Ki Baraat (in which Aamir had a small role) and Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin . Aamir's cousin Mansoor Khan made his directing debut with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak , the film that launched Aamir into the stratosphere of stardom. The Khans are descendants of freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Aamir made his debut when he was eight, in uncle Nasir Hussain's Yaadon Ki Baarat (1973). The next year, he appeared in his father's film Madhosh . He made his debut as an adult actor in Ketan Mehta's Holi 11 years later.
Aamir's star-making role was in the movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), opposite Juhi Chawla. The revenge and romance tale was a blockbuster, and Aamir's 'chocolate boy' looks made him a teen idol. The song Papa Kehtey Hain Bada Naam Karega is considered something of a youth anthem and is popular even today.
Aamir appeared in four movies in the year 1990, including the superhit Dil opposite Madhuri Dixit. The next year Aamir starred opposite Pooja Bhatt in the romantic comedy Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi (1991).
In 1992, Aamir charmed as a slacker schoolboy who re-invents himself as a cycling champion in Mansoor Khan's Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar . Loosely based on The Sound of Music , Aamir's next mega hit, Hum Hain Raahi Pyaar Ke (1993), co-starred his Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak heroine Juhi Chawla.
The year 1994 saw Aamir and fellow heartthrob Salman Khan appear together in the cult comedy movie Andaz Apna Apna . The actors never worked together after that movie but remained good friends. On an episode of Koffee With Karan, Aamir revealed that he purposely never worked with Salman later due his laid-back attitude while filming Andaz Apna Apna.
In 1995, Aamir was seen opposite Manisha Koirala for the first time in Akele Hum Akele Tum, an adaptation of acclaimed Hollywood hit Kramer vs Kramer.
1995 brought with it applause and high praise for Aamir's pitch perfect performance as a tapori in Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela opposite rising star Urmila Matondkar. But despite a stellar performance, he lost the Filmfare Award to Shah Rukh Khan (for Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge). That was when the actor decided to boycott all popular award shows.
Then came a series of superhit films for the actor, starting with Raja Hindustani (1996) for which he won the Filmfare Best Actor award (and didn't show up to collect), followed by Ishq in 1997 co-starring Juhi Chawla, Kajol and Ajay Devgn, and Ghulam opposite Rani Mukerji (1998).
Sarfarosh (1999), co-starring Sonali Bendre and Naseeruddin Shah, brought him more critical praise.
Another landmark year in Aamir's life was 2001, when the actor turned producer with Lagaan. It became the third Hindi film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (after Mother India (1957) and Salaam Bombay! (1989) The film won seven National Film Awards, in addition to fetching Aamir his second Filmfare Best Actor Award.
Lagaan was a hard act to follow but in the same year, Aamir pulled another rabbit out of the hat with Dil Chahta Hai playing the brash Akash in Farhan Akhtar's acclaimed writing and directing debut. Aamir then took a four year break and made a comeback with the poorly received Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005).
The Mangal Pandey fizzle was soon erased by the success of Rang De Basanti the next year, which earned Aamir the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, apart from other honours. The film was also selected as India's official entry to the Oscars but was not shortlisted as a nominee. The film received a nomination for Best Foreign Film at the BAFTA Awards. Aamir also appeared with actress Kajol in her comeback film Fanaa the same year.
Aamir made his debut as director with the warmly praised Taare Zameen Par in 2007, winning two Filmfare Awards and the National Award for Best Film on Family Welfare.
In 2008, Aamir was seen in Ghajini, a Hindi remake of the Tamil film of the same name. It was a major success and became the highest grossing movie of that year.
In 2009 came 3 Idiots which swept all the awards that year, including three National Awards. 3 Idiots ruled the box office charts for four years as the highest-earning Bollywood film before being toppled in 2013 first by Shah Rukh Khan's Chennai Express, then Hrithik Roshan's Krrish 3, and finally by Aamir himself with 2014's Dhoom: 3.
Aamir launched the next generation of the Khans, his nephew Imran, in 2008's hit romantic comedy Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na which he produced. Imran Khan was again seen in the Aamir-produced Delhi Belly (2011).
Aamir Khan's younger brother Faisal also tried his luck in Bollywood and was first launched by their father Tahir Hussain in 1994's flop film Madhosh. Six years later, Faisal appeared with brother Aamir in Mela (2000), also a flop. Since then, Faisal's career as an actor has been limited to a handful of forgettable B-grade films and a couple of TV roles. Aamir's once close relationship with his brother hit rock bottom when Faisal, who reportedly suffers from schizophrenia, accused his brother of working against his interests. However, the two are now believed to have repaired their relationship ever since the death of their father Tahir Hussain in 2010.
Apart from the slew of film awards he has won, Aamir Khan also received the Padma Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010.
In 2010, Aamir produced the acclaimed Peepli Live, a tale of media frenzy against the backdrop of farmers' suicides. In 2011, he produced his wife Kiran's Dhobi Ghaat, in which he also starred, and Delhi Belly, in which he made a cameo appearance.
Aamir ended 2012 with a bang, playing a cop in the superhit suspense thriller Talaash with Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor.
As the calendar changed from 2013 to 2014, blockbuster Dhoom: 3, co-starring Katrina Kaif, Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra, put Aamir firmly back on top of the charts, reclaiming his 3 Idiots record.
In 2014, Aamir smashed all records with his mega-blockbuster film PK in which he played the role of an alien, marooned on Earth, critiquing fake godmen and superstition. PK was criticised by several religious outfits and Aamir said that the film wasn't meant to have hurt sentiments.
Aamir also struck a high note in 2012 with his ground-breaking television series Satyamev Jayate which dealt with issues and problems in the Indian society. The show, of which three seasons have aired so far, has discussed issues like female foeticide, sexual assault and disability.
However, it would not be appropriate to say that 2015 had no Aamir Khan films for Mr Perfectionist was the voice behind Pluto Mehra in Zoya Akhtar's Dil Dhadakne Do. Pluto was the pet bullmastiff owned by the Mehra family in the movie.
Aamir will soon be seen in Nitesh Tiwari's Dangal, which is expected to hit theatres in December this year. The film is based on the life of wrestler Mahavir Phogat and his daughters, celebrated wrestlers Geeta and Babita. To prepare for this role, Aamir turned vegan and has gained 85 kilos apart from sporting a salt and pepper look.
As a teen idol, Aamir Khan broke a legion of female hearts when they discovered that Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak's Raj was already married. Aamir and childhood sweetheart Reena Dutta have two children, son Junaid and daughter Ira. The couple divorced in 2002.
In 2005, Aamir married Kiran Rao who assisted director Ashutosh Gowariker during the filming of Lagaan. Aamir and Kiran's son Azad was born via surrogacy in December, 2011.
