Hrithik Roshan, superhero at 39

Hrithik Roshan is the quintessential Greek God as he turns 39. The actor who will be seen in the much-awaited Krrish 3 this Diwali, recently emerged as the "sexiest Asian man in the world" in an online survey. Ever since he burst into Bollywood with Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, there has been no looking back for this versatile actor who can still give the current crop of heroes a run for their money.

NDTV toasts the actor on his birthday with a pictorial journey through his life.

Hrithik Roshan, who was born in Mumbai, hails from an out and out filmi family. His father is film director Rakesh Roshan, while his mother, Pinky, is the daughter of producer and director J Om Prakash. Hrithik has an elder sister, Sunaina. His uncle Rajesh Roshan is a famous music director. The actor did his schooling from Bombay Scottish School and earned a bachelor's degree in Commerce from Sydenham College.

His childhood was not exactly a bed of roses and Hrithik once revealed in an interview that he suffered from health problems and a speech disorder that led to stammering in his younger days.

Notwithstanding health difficulties, Hrithik was determined to make it big and displayed his acting ambitions very early in his life. As a child actor, he played supporting roles or an extra in dance groups in films like Bhagwan Dad and Aasha.

Hrithik made one of the biggest Bollywood debuts anyone has ever achieved with his father's blockbuster film film Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai in 2000. His dance moves in the song Ek pal ka jeena took the country by storm and a star was born.

The same year he proved that he had the ability to pick his films intelligently with Fiza in which he essayed the role of Karisma's brother. The movie was a flop but Hrithik received rave reviews for his performance.

The same year he did yet another terrorist-based film- Mission Kashmir which gave him a chance to show his acting prowess. His leading lady in the film was Preity Zinta. The movie was the third highest grossing film of the year.

Hrithik's film in 2001 was Yaadein opposite Kareena Kapoor. The movie wasn't really a success but Hrithik and Kareena went on to star as an on-screen couple many times after this movie.

It was also in 2001 that Hrithik was made part of a huge star cast - for Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham- which was the second-highest grossing film of 2001. Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Jaya Bachchan were a part of the film and Hrithik was paired opposite Kareena.

Hrithik's first major flop was Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage (2002) where his first heroine, Amisha Patel was paired with him again. The expectations from the two were very high and the film just didn't deliver. His second film the same year- Naa Tum Jano Na Hum- opposite Esha Deol- also failed to impress the audience. Mujhse Dosti Karoge- also in that year was yet another dud despite him being paired opposite Kareena and Rani Mukherjee.

Hrithik's first release in 2003, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon- with Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor, continued the lukewarm response his last few films had got.

A determined Hrithik turned things around later that year and appeared in Koi Mil Gaya, a film based loosely on E.T. Despite the sci-fi angle, which was a risk since it had never been explored before in Bollywood, the film was a huge hit and earned Hrithik the popular as well as the critics' award at Filfmfare.

Hrithik did just one film in 2004- his childhood friend Farhan Akhtar's Lakshya. The film was a hit. Farhan even revealed that he had wanted Hrithik for his first film Dil Chahta Hai but was unable to do so because of date issues.

Hrithik didn't appear in any movie in 2005, but came back with a bang in 2006 with Krrish, a super-hero film, which also clicked with the Indian audience. The film was a major box office success and became the second highest grosser of 2006 earning him the Best Actor award at most ceremonies.

One of Hrithik's biggest and most appreciated films till date is Dhoom: 2, also in 2006, where he played the super suave international thief Mr. A. His role, though a negative one, fetched him his third Filmfare Best Actor award.

Another dry year for Hrithik was 2007 when he appeared in no movie. However, when people saw Ashutosh Gowarikar's magnum opus Jodhaa Akbar (2008), they understood why - because Hrithik was busy perfecting his skills and chemistry to play emperor Akbar opposite his Dhoom 2 partner Aishwarya who played his wife in the movie.

We next saw Hrithik in a cameo item number in Krazzy 4 (2008). Once again, he stunned everyone with the superb dancing.

Hritikh's Kites was one of the most eagerly awaited films of 2010 but the film failed to do well at the box office and is remembered more for Hrithik's sizzling hot chemistry with Barbara Mori than anything else.

Hritikh's performance as a quadriplegic in Guzaarish (2010) opposite Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, will go down as one of the finest ever in Bollywood. The film failed to deliver at the box office but Hrithik received rave reviews for his performance.

In Zindagei Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Hrithik Roshan for the first time did a role that was slightly offbeat and closer to reality and the movie helped him unleash his potential as an actor. The movie was declared a super-hit both in India and overseas.

In 2012, Hrithik reprised the role of Vijay Deenanath Chauhan in Karan Johar's blockbuster film Agneepath. The film, a remake of the 1990 Amitabh Bachchan classic of the same name, broke all opening-day records till then and is considered his most successful film so far.

In 2011, Hrithik Roshan became the fifth Bollywood star to have his wax statue unveiled at Madame Tussauds.

Hrithik who was accompanied by parents, Rakesh Roshan and Pinky, grandfather J Om Prakash, wife Sussanne and their two sons, dedicated the honour to his family.

On a personal note, Hrithik married his longtime girlfriend Sussanne Khan in 2000.

Women across the world lost their hearts to this well-built, awesome dancer cum actor, but his love for wife Sussanne seems never-ending.

Their first son Hrehaan was born in 2005 while his second son Hridhaan in 2008.

Reports of a rift in the marriage did surface in 2010 thanks to an alleged affair with his Kites co-star Barbara Mori. It was reported that when Hrithik was away for the shoot of Kites, Sussanne took the kids and moved to her parents' house. However, When Hrithik came back, he went straight to his in-law's house and made a statement clarifying that all was well between him and his wife and that there was some anti-termite work going on in his house because of which the entire family had moved in with Suzanne's parents temporarily.

The actor, who is currently working on Krrish 3, has reportedly been approached to play the lead in Shekhar Kapur's ambitious film Paani.

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