Aamir, 48, and the Temple of Dhoom

Bollywood trailblazer Aamir Khan has a lot to look forward to as he turns 48. Perhaps the only star to do just one film a year – and what a film it almost always turns out to be - Aamir's last movie Talaash has been a smash hit, just like all the previous ones. His much-awaited Dhoom 3 is expected to hit the screens this year.

Here's a pictorial journey through the actor's life on his birthday.

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 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.

Aamir his debut as a child artiste in Nazir Hussain's Yaadon Ki Baarat (1973) and then made his debut as an adult actor in Ketan Mehta's Holi 11 years later. But his star-making role was in the film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), opposite Juhi Chawla. The revenge and romance tale was a blockbuster, and Aamir's ‘chocolate boy' look 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.

When he first started out as an actor, Aamir did as many as three to four films a year. One such year was 1990 when he appeared in four films, including the superhit Dil (1990) opposite Madhuri Dixit. The following year Aamir starred opposite Pooja Bhatt in the romantic comedy Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi (1991).

In 1992, Aamir wooed all with his boyish charm as a slacker school student who re-invents himself as a cycling champion in Mansoor Khan's Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. Loosely based on The Sound of Music came Aamir's next mega hit, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke (1993), starring his Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak heroine Juhi Chawla.

The year 1994 saw Aamir and fellow heartthrob Salman Khan appear together in the cult comedy film Andaz Apna Apna. While Aamir and Salman stopped working together after that film, they recently expressed a wish to appear in a movie together and Aamir even visited the actor on the sets of Dabangg 2.

In 1995, Aamir was seen opposite Manisha Koirala for the first time in Akele Hum Akele Tum, a film which was reportedly a copy of the Hollywood classic, Kramer vs Kramer.

1995 proved to be a turning point for the actor as he garnered rave reviews for the role of a tapori in Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela. But despite a stellar performance in the film, he lost the Filmfare Award to Shah Rukh Khan (for Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge). It was then that the actor decided to boycott all popular film awards.

Then came a series of superhit films for the actor, starting with Raja Hindustani (1996) for which he bagged the Filmfare Best Actor award, followed by the multi-starrer Ishq in 1997, Ghulam (1998) and Sarfarosh (1999).

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 7 National Film Awards, in addition to the Filmfare Best Picture Award.

In 2001 Aamir was also seen playing the role of Akash in the first film written and directed by Farhan Akhtar, Dil Chahta Hai. Following the film's release, Aamir took a four year break, reportedly due to some personal problems, and made a comeback with Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005).

Aamir bagged the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for his film Rang De Basanti in 2006. 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. More was in store for Aamir fans, when they saw the unusual pairing of Kajol and Aamir in Fanaa the same year.

Aamir made his directorial debut with Taare Zameen Par in 2007. Then 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 film of that year.

In 2009 came 3 Idiots which is Bollywood's highest grossing film ever and swept all the awards that year, including three National Awards.

Aamir also launched his nephew Imran Khan in 2008 with hit romantic comedy Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na under his production house. Imran Khan was again seen in Aamir's production Delhi Belly (2011).

Aamir Khan's younger brother Faisal Khan also tried his luck in Bollywood and was first launched by their father Tahir Hussain in Madhosh (1994). But that film flopped miserably. Faisal took a six-year-long hiatus before trying his luck in Bollywood once again, this time launched by brother Aamir in his next film Mela (2000). But that too failed at the box office. Post that, Faisal was only seen in a few B-grade movies.

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.

The actor also received a 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 Ghat, in which he also starred, and Delhi Belly, in which he made a cameo appearance.

In 2012 Aamir played a cop in the superhit suspense thriller Talaash with Rani Mukherjee and Kareena Kapoor. The movie entered the Rs 100 crore club and minted Rs 131.78 crore worldwide.

Besides films, Aamir struck a high note in 2012 with his groundbreaking television series Satyamev Jayate which dealt with issues and problems in Indian society. Aamir was invited to Parliament to discuss medical FDI and price control of pharma drugs.

Fresh from the success of his television show Satyamev Jayate, the actor also made the cover of Time magazine. Can one actor change a nation, the cover blurb asked.

Aamir is currently busy shooting for Peekay and Dhoom 3- which is scheduled to hit the screens in December. He reportedly plays a baddie in the third instalment of the Dhoom franchise, taking over from John Abraham and Hrithik Roshan. He will co-star with Katrina Kaif for the first time in the movie.

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 married childhood sweetheart Reena Dutta in 1986 and has two children, son Junaid and daughter Ira, with her. The couple were divorced in 2002 and in 2005, Aamir married Kiran Rao who had been an assistant director to Ashutosh Gowariker during the filming of Lagaan.

Aamir became a father for the third time with the birth of his son Azad Rao Khan in December, 2011. Aamir's first child with wife Kiran, Azad was born through IVF to a surrogate mother at a private clinic in Mumbai.

The actor is currently wrapped up in the shooting for Dhoom 3 and Peekay- the latter involving gruelling shoots in Rajasthan. The movie reportedly revolves around the issue of substance abuse.

Here's wishing the actor a very happy birthday and a great year ahead.