Happy Birthday Malaika Arora Khan: Bollywood's Munni turns 41

Bollywood's sultry diva Malaika Arora Khan enjoys a reputation unmatched even by the industry's top heroines. The actor-producer, who celebrates her 41st birthday today (August 23), is the Hindi film industry's most sought after item girl and a red carpet wonder for every style critic. Her flawless demeanour is what makes her fashion's favourite child. Here's a peek into the stylista's fashion diary.

Malaika Arora Khan was born on 23 August 1973, in Mumbai, to a Punjabi father and a Malayali Catholic mother. She did her schooling from Mumbai and started her modeling career there. She has a sister Amrita Arora, who also dabbled as an MTV VJ before turning to acting.

Malaika was chosen as one of the first MTV VJs when MTV India was launched in India, in the year 1996. She became an interviewer for the channel and then went on to become the most prominent non-movie, non-model female in India. Malaika then began co-anchoring Love Line and Style Check with VJ Cyrus Broacha. She also became an instant hit at award ceremonies and concerts on the television channel.

In the 1996 year, Malaika entered the world of modeling and became immensely successful. She appeared in a number of advertisements, both in print and on television.

Malaika is married to Bollywood actor-turned-producer Arbaaz Khan, whom she met during a coffee ad shoot. The couple has a son, Arhaan.

Malaika Arora Khan and future husband Arbaaz brewed more than coffee while shooting for the MR Coffee ad. The commercial generated a lot of controversy due to its sexual overtones.

Malaika shares a good equation with her mom-in-law, Salma. Actors Salman and Sohail Khan are her brothers-in-law and script writer Salim Khan is her father-in-law.

Malaika Arora Khan was voted Sensation of the Year at the 1st Jeeyo Bollywood Awards by UTV Movies and PVR Cinemas in 2011.

Malaika started her acting career with Aaja Meri Jaan (1993).The film was directed by Ketan Anand. Her first hit Bollywood item number, Chaiya Chaiya in Mani Ratnam's Dil Se, (1998) made her industry's most sought after item girl.

Malaika was seen in the movie Bichhoo (2000), and later featured in the Maahi Vesong in the film Kaante (2002), which was an instant hit. The film was directed by filmmaker Sanjay Gupta and had many big stars in it. During the same year Maa Tujhhe Salaam (2002) released.

In 2005, she did yet another item number Kaal Dhamaal, in Kaal, with actor Shah Rukh Khan which became a huge hit.

In 2007, she starred in the title song of the movie Heyy Babyy, with actor Akshay Kumar and sister Amrita. As usual, Malaika stole our hearts in this peppy number with her dance moves.

Then she was seen in a popular song Deewangi Deewangi from Om Shanti Om (2007) along with a host of other famous actors.

In 2008, she did an item number Hoth Rasiley in the film Welcome with Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor. Her scintillating moves made the song an instant hit. She was seen in EMI (2008), and did cameos in Helloo India (2009) and Housefull (2010).

And finally Munni Badnam in Dabangg (2010) featured her with brother-in-law Salman Khan. The song became a rage all over.

Item queen Malaika Arora Khan also did an item song, Anarkali Disco Chali, in Housefull 2 (2012). The same year she stepped into her Munni shoes for the song Pandeyji Seeti in Dabangg 2.

Malaika will next be seen in a song in her husband's forthcoming film, Dolly Ki Doli, starring Sonam Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao. And if Arbaaz Khan is to be believed then Rajukummar has matched Malaika's standards quite well.

She played a judge on reality show Nach Baliye 2005 and 2006 respectively. In 2009 she judged another reality TV show Lux Perfect Bride, reality dance shows titled Zara Nachke Dikha in 2008 and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in 2010.

In 2014, Malaika judged TV reality show India's Got Talent with filmmaker Karan Johar and veteran actress Kirron Kher.

Malaika has walked the ramp for various designers including Vikram Phadnis, Bhairavi Jaikishen.

Malaika Arora became a part of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) in Mumbai in 2007, by posing for a PETA campaign to highlight the suffering of animals used in circuses.

We wish Malaika a very Happy Birthday.