Aamir Khan Is Maharashtrian of the Year

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan received the 'Maharashtrian of the Year' award, instituted by leading Marathi daily Lokmat, at a function held in Mumbai.

Aamir received the award for his contribution to the Hindi film industry.

Here's a look at his journey so far.

Aamir Hussain Khan was born on March 14, 1965.

Aamir Khan was born to Tahir and Zeenat Hussain in Mumbai (then Bombay). His father Tahir Hussain was a film producer while his uncle is the noted producer-director Nasir Hussain.

Aamir is the eldest of Tahir and Zeenat Hussain's four chidren.

Aamir has a brother - Faisal Khan - and two sisters - Farhat and Nikhat.

He studied at St. Anne's High School and later shifted to Bombay Scottish School.

Aamir began his film career as a chid actor in his uncle Nasir Hussain's blockbuster 1973 film Yaadon Ki Baaraat followed by Madhosh in 1974.

His first film as an adult was Ketan Mehta's 1984 film Holi. The film also starred Ashutosh Gowariker, Om Puri, Shreeram Lagoo, Deepti Naval and Naseeruddin Shah.

He made his presence felt in Bollywood with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) opposite Juhi Chawla. The film was directed by his cousin Mansoor Khan and went on to be a major blockbuster.

Aamir fell in love with Reena Dutta and the two got secretly married before the release of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

The news of Aamir's marriage was kept hushed up till six months after the release of the film.

Reena had even appeared in the hit song Papa Kehte Hain in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (QSQT).

Aamir and Reena have two children, a son Junaid and a daughter Ira.

During his younger days Aamir was an avid tennis player.

Prior to turning a full-time actor Aamir worked as an assistant in three films, Manzil Manzil, Zabardast and Zamane Ko Dikhana Hain. It was during those days that he develped a passion for direction.

Aamir's next release, after QSQT was the critically acclaimed Raakh in 1989. This role earned Aamir a Special Jury Award at the National Awards.

The hit pair of Aamir and Juhi appeared together again in the 1989 film Love Love Love. The duo were to feature in many hits (and flops) together in the years to follow.

Aamir's initial success was follwed by a string of films that didn't do well at the box office including Dev Anand's Awwal Number (1990).

Aamir's father Tahir Hussain turned director with Tum Mere Ho (1990) that also had Juhi Chawla. The film bombed.

Dil (1990) was one of the biggest hits of the year and it starred Aamir with Madhuri Dixit.

Madhuri and Aamir also acted together in Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin (1990).

Mahesh Bhatt's 1991 film Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, based on It Happened One Night (1934), had Bhatt's daughter Pooja Bhatt opposite Aamir. The film's music was a roaring success.

Then began another sting of not-so-successful films for Aamir. Aamir's flop haul of 1991 and 1992 included Afsana Pyar Ka, Isi Ka Naam Zindagi, Daulat Ki Jung, Sahebzaade and Parampara.

In 1992 came Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar directed by Mansoor Khan.

The youthful feel of the film and its music struck the right cords with the audiences.

In 1993 Aamir began his rendezvous with light-hearted comedies. His 1993 film Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke with Juhi Chawla did good business. The film was directed by Mahesh Bhatt.

The success of Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke was followed by Rajkumar Santoshi's laugh riot Andaz Apna Apna (1994). The film also starred Salman Khan.

Mansoor Khan again cast his cousin in the Kramer vs Kramer (1979) inspired Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995). The film also starred Manisha Koirala and Anu Malik composed the hit music of the film.

After a string of romantic films with a few comedies thrown in Aamir went back to action with Baazi (1995) directed by Ashutosh Gowariker.

Amongst other things Aamir also did a drag queen act as Julie Braganza in Baazi.

In 1995 Ram Gopal Varma took a diversion from his action and brought Aamir Khan together with Urmila Matondkar and Jackie Shroff in the musical romance Rangeela. The film marked the Bollywood debut of music maestro AR Rahman.

Aamir's role as the loveable tapori was well appreciated.

Raja Hindustani (1996) was not only a big hit the film is still remembered for Aamir's long kiss in the rain with Karishma Kapoor.

With Ishq (1997) Aamir was back to comedy and was again paired opposite Juhi Chawla. The other copule in the film was Ajay Devgn and Kajol. The film was a success.

Vikram Bhatt's On the Waterfront (1954) inspired Ghulam (1998) had Aamir in the role of a boxer. Vikram Bhatt's On the Waterfront (1954) inspired Ghulam (1998) had Aamir in the role of a boxer.

In 1998 Aamir starred in Deepa Mehta's off-beat partition tale 1947: Earth. Aamir character in the film had some shades of grey.

In 1999 Aamir played the cop again in John Mathew Matthan's Sarfarosh. The film also starred Sonali Bendre and Naseeruddin Shah.

Aamir's second film with Manish Koirala was the musical Mann (1999).

Dharmesh Darshan paired the two brothers Aamir Khan and Faisal Khan in the disastrous Mela (2000). The two brothers had Twinkle Khanna for company in the film.

Aamir turned producer in 2001 with Ashutosh Gowarikar's Lagaan.

The film went on to win all major awards in India including seven National Film Awards, nine Filmfare awards, and ten IIFA Awards. The film was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, eventually losing to Bosnian film No Man's Land.

By now Aamir had drastically reduced the number of films that he signed. His only other film to be released in 2001 was Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai.

Dil Chahta Hai is considered to be one of the landmark films of Indian cinema and Aamir's look in the film was aped by many a youngster.

In December 2002 Aamir filed for divorce with Reena. The couple had been married for 15 years.

The September 2005 issue of Stardust magazine alleged that Aamir Khan had fathered a love child with British journalist Jessica Hines. The issue had created quite a storm in the media but subsequently died down.

On December 28, 2005 Aamir married Kiran Rao. Kiran was assisting director Ashutosh Gowariker in Lagaan.

After a long break of four years Aamir came back in Ketan Mehta's historical Mangal Pandey. Inspite of the hype and the mega scale of the film it failed to do well at the box office.

The 2006 film Rang De Basanti was yet another landmark film in Aamir's oeuvre.

Director Rakesh Omprakash Mehra managed to hit the revolutionary trait of India's youth and the film attained cult status.

In 2006 Aamir portrayed the role of a terrorist in Fanaa. The film co-starred Kajol.

In 2007 Aamir turned director with the much acclaimed Taare Zameen Par (2007). The film rakeed in multiple awards.

Aamir has always been successful with action and this was firmly established again with AR Murugadoss' Ghaniji.

Ghajini (2008) went on to break all box office records.

If Ghajini had set a new record for Aamir Khan, he was soon to shatter it with 3 Idiots (2009). Aamir's next film Dhobi Ghaat was directed by his wife Kiran Rao.

Aamir Khan's next project as a producer was Peepli Live. The extraordinary team of Aamir Khan and Anusha Rizvi presented a satire on how the media focuses at time on the more trivial issue than the broader, and more important, spectrum of issues. The movie was India's official entry for the Oscars 2011 but it failed to rise to the occasion.

His upcoming film is Reema Kagti's untitled suspense thriller in which he has been cast opposite Rani Mukherjee.

Aamir Khan is quite famous for the kissing scenes his films, right from Holi in 1984 to 3 Idiots in 2009 Aamir has been locking lips with his female co-stars with the same zeal.

Not only in films, Aamir Khan has made a mark in the world of ads too.

Aamir's ads are eagerly awaited by audiences as he brings in his perfectionism to the art of selling products and services too.