Bollywood heartthrob Imran turns 28!

Actor Imran Khan turns 28 this Thursday; this is his first birthday after he got married to his 8-year-old girlfriend Avantika Mallik.

Their mehendi ceremony, held a few days before their marriage, had Bollywood's who's who in attendance.

And finally January 10th 2011, this Bollywood's chocolate boy broke many hearts when he walked down the aisle with Avantika. The couple had a registered wedding at his uncle Aamir's Pali Hill house. Here's a look at Imran's journey so far...

The longtime sweethearts got engaged at a high profile farmhouse party in Khandala.

Just a year after he hit fame,Avantika Malik and Imran decided to make it official and put a ring on it.

We like Imran's one woman principle, and we think Avantika is one lucky lady for landing him.

Imran is the latest of a line of illustrious Khans. His mother, Nuzhat, is actor Aamir Khan's first cousin and director Mansoor Khan's sister

Imran's father, Anil Pal, was his uncle Mansoor's classmate at IIT Mumbai and later moved to Silicon Valley as a software engineer. Anil and Nuzhat divorced when Imran was a year and a half

Imran's surname was changed to Khan after his parents' divorce. His mother moved back to Mumbai and Imran studied at Bombay Scottish for a few years before changing to a boarding school in Ooty

Later, he moved to California to live with his father and finished high school there. A filmmaking course in Los Angeles followed

Like Aamir before him, Imran's first screen appearance was as a child. Aged all of five, he played a young Aamir in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)

In 1992 blood ties paid off again. Once more, he played Aamir's younger self in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander

Imran initially wanted to be a director, like uncle Mansoor. But fate intervened and he ended up in front of the camera rather than behind it, like uncle Aamir

Born with a silver spoon, Imran had big shoes to fill. Those of uncle Aamir!

Imran made his acting debut in 2008 with Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, produced by Aamir Khan and Mansoor Khan and co-starring Genelia D'Souza.

The film received rave reviews from critics and went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year. Imran was also nominated for Best Male Debut at the 54th Filmfare awards, which he shared with Farhan Akhtar.

The audience, particularly the female part, fell hard for Imran's boyish good looks and charm. But giving the new Khan stiff competition in the loverboy stakes was the new Kapoor, Ranbir

In a departure from his winsome Jaane Tu…. Image, he sported a harder look and a toned torso in Kidnap. The movie flopped but his performance didn't, earning him an IIFA award nomination in 2009

Luck with Shruti Haasan and Sanjay Dutt also sank at the box office. Recently, over Koffee with Karan Johar, Imran admitted that this had been a difficult phase in his career

Just when it seemed his early success had been a flash in the pan, I Hate Luv Storys mildly boosted his sagging career. Imran, who seemed to get along just fine with leading lady Sonam Kapoor on set, recently voiced disagreement with her career choices

In Break Ke Baad directed by debutant Danish Aslam and produced by Kunal Kohli the actor romanced Deepika Padukone. The movie was a youthful one, but failed to charm the box-office registers.

His next release, Delhi Belly produced by Aamir Khan, is an English language comedy directed by debutant Abhinay Deo.