Happy Birthday Aamir Khan, Andaz Apna @51

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 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.

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.