Abhishek Bachchan@37: papa kehte hain

Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who will next be seen in Dhoom 3, turns 37 today. Here's a look at the journey of the second generation of Bollywood's first family.

Born on February 5, 1976, Abhishek is the second child of Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan. His parents are counted among India's most distinguished actors. Abhishek's elder sister, Shweta, is married to businessman Nikhil Nanda. He is the grandson of poet Harivanshrai and activist Teji Bachchan.

Dyslexic as a child, Abhishek went to a variety of schools in Delhi and in Mumbai and finally to Aiglon College in Switzerland. He was finishing up at Boston University but had to return home when his father's company, ABCL, went bankrupt.

There was no beginner's luck for Abhishek. His first film, Refugee, released in the year 2000. Directed by J P Dutta and co-starring Kareena Kapoor, it failed to make an impression at the box office. However, Abhishek was nominated for the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award.

His second and third films, Dhai Akshar Prem Ke opposite future wife Aishwarya Rai and Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya, which were released in the same year, were also complete failures.

Abhishek continued to act in movies like Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai but without any major success.

Apart from a dozen Bollywood films, he also acted in a few Bengali films like Desh, which starred his mother Jaya Bachchan.

Abhishek's love life was full of ups and downs. In 2002, he was engaged to Karisma Kapoor and appeared in Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (2002) with her. The same year Abhishek's Om Jai Jagdish also released. Both flopped at the box office. A year later, the engagement ended.

Abhishek teamed up with his first heroine Kareena once again for Sooraj Barjatya's Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon and earned praise for his performance.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost, Kuch Naa Kaho and Zameen in 2003 proved duds for Abhishek.

In 2004, Abhishek starred in Mani Ratnam's Yuva which not only received great critical appraisal, but also brought accolades for his acting talent.

This was also the year he acted in Dhoom which too was a major hit.

The alliance between Abhishek and Ram Gopal Varma started in 2004 with the movie Naach. The film, which starred Antara Mali along with Abhishek was one of Ramu's massive failures.

2005 proved very lucky for Abhishek. The first release of the year was Bunty Aur Babli opposite Rani Mukherjee, one of his most frequent leading ladies. The movie did very well at the box office.

The other big hits of 2005 were Sarkar co-starring father Amitabh Bachchan, Dus and Bluffmaster.

True love was waiting around the corner. Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai fell in love while shooting Umrao Jaan in 2006. They announced their engagement on January 14, 2007.

Rumours about Aiswarya and Abhishek being a couple started with the shooting of Umrao Jaan where Aishwarya was playing the title role while Abhishek played Nawab Sultan Khan. The two remained tight lipped even after the release of the film.

Abhishek reprised his role as ACP Jai Dixit in the superhit Dhoom: 2 in 2006.

Just a month before Aishwarya and Abhishek tied the knot in 2007, Mani Ratnam's Guru released which was a hit.

Abhishek also appeared in a supporting role in Apoorva Lakhia's Shootout at Lokhandwala in the year 2007.

Abhi and Ash couple got married on April 20, 2007, according to traditional Hindu rites of the South Indian Bunt community, to which Aishwarya belongs.

North Indian and Bengali ceremonies were also performed. The wedding took place in a private ceremony at the Bachchan's residence Prateeksha in Juhu, Mumbai.

After a series of flops Abhishek came back in 2008 with Ram Gopal Varma Sarkaar Raj in 2008, a sequel to Sarkar, co-starring father Amitabh Bachchan and wife Aishwarya. The film was a hit.

Goldie Behl's Drona opposite Priyanka Chopra, where he tried his hand at sci-fi and mythology, proved one of Abhishek's biggest flops.

Abhishek restored his plunging success rate with his last film of 2008, the hugely popular Dostana directed by Tarun Mansukhani, in which he starred with John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra.

Abhishek also worked in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Delhi 6 opposite Sonam Kapoor. The movie was a massive flop.

In 2009 Abhishek starred in R Balakrishnan's Paa opposite Vidya Balan and played dad to his own father Amitabh Bachchan, who played the role of a 13-year-old suffering from progeria.

Then came Mani Ratnam's Raavan opposite wife Aishwarya and Ashutosh Gowariker's Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey opposite Deepika Padukone in 2010. Both films sank without a trace.

Abhishek and Aishwarya also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in the 2009.

Aishwarya Rai gave birth to the couple's first child, daughter Aaradhya, on November 16, 2011.

2012 proved lucky for the Bachchan clan. Abhishek Bachchan received the Screen Award for Best Comedian for his role in the superhit Bol Bachchan. He is currently shooting for the third film in the hit Dhoom series.

We wish the star a very happy birthday…