Salman Khan, unstoppable at 46

Salman Khan, who was recently spotted at choreographer Farah Khan's housewarming party, turned 46 on December 27, 2011.

Days ago the actor was seen at a family party, which was also attended by Katrina Kaif, his on-off “special friend”.

The actor is also co-hosting reality show Bigg Boss 5 with Sanjay Dutt.

Salman was in Hyderabad recently for the launch of Cricket Celebrity League - 2. The actor also stepped out with his family to watch Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible - The Ghost Protocol in Mumbai.

While Salman appears to be back in Mumbai's social circuit and is shooting for his first Yash Raj film Ek Tha Tiger, his fans and the industry were shocked to learn of his nerve affliction.

In August this year, the actor revealed he was suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia, a nerve disorder that causes intense pain in the face. He then underwent a complicated surgery in the US in September to fix the disorder.

Though the surgery was successful, Salman said he is not 100 per cent better and the pain has increased after he started shooting for Ek Tha Tiger in Dublin.

Salman said he is due for another surgery once again in three-four months.

Meanwhile, here's the backstory of as many believe, one of Bollywood's most bankable stars.

Salman Khan is the eldest son of celebrated screenwriter Salim Khan and his first wife Salma Khan.

Salman has two brothers, Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan, and two sisters, Alvira and Arpita. Alvira is married to actor/director Atul Agnihotri.

Casanova Salman Khan was romantically linked with several actresses in the past and is frequently featured as Bollywood's most eligible bachelor.

His turbulent relationship with Aishwarya Rai constantly filled gossip columns. After their break-up in March 2002, Ash accused him of harassing her. She claimed that Salman had not been able to come to terms with their break-up.

Later when Aishwarya was seeing actor Vivek Oberoi, Salman apparently called up Vivek and threatened him. Later Vivek called a press conference to confirm that Salman had abused him and threatened to kill him.

In 2005, an illicit copy of a mobile phone call recorded in 2001 by the Mumbai police was released. It appeared to be a call in which he threatened ex-girlfriend, Aishwarya Rai, in an effort to force her to appear at social events held by Mumbai underworld. However, the alleged tape was tested in a Forensic lab in Chandigarh, which concluded that it was fake.

After Aishwarya moved on with her life, Sallu found love in the eyes of the beautiful model Katrina Kaif.

In 2010, the two called off their relationship. During the promotions of his home production Dabangg Salman admitted to 'being single'. And Katrina in an interview to a news daily said she had broken off with Salman but they were still friends.

The duo will be seen together on the big screen after a long time in Ek Tha Tiger.

Coming to his professional life, Salman made his foray in Bollywood with the movie Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988), which had Rekha playing the lead. Salman played a supporting role in the movie.

His first leading role in a Bollywood movie was in Sooraj R. Barjatya's romance Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). The film went on to become one of India's highest grossing films. It also won him the Filmfare Best Male Debut award, and a nomination for the Filmfare Best Actor award.

After the success of Baaghi in 1990, he gave three successive hits in 1991 - Patthar Ke Phool, Sanam Bewafa and Saajan.

Despite these tremendous early box office successes, all of his 1992-1993 releases resulted in big duds at the box office. These films included Suryavanshi, Ek Ladka Ek Ladki, Jaagruti, Nishchaiy, Chandra Mukhi and Dil Tera Aashiq.

Blockbuster success returned in 1994 with his second collaboration with director Sooraj Barjatya in the romance Hum Aapke Hain Koun…!, co-starring Madhuri Dixit. This film was the biggest hit of that year and turned out to be one of Bollywood's highest grossing films ever, becoming the fourth highest earner of all time. Apart from being a commercial success, the film was widely acclaimed and Salman was praised for his performance, earning him his second nomination for the Filmfare Best Actor award.

The 1994 film Andaz Apna Apna, alongside co-star Aamir Khan, was a box office disaster when it released, but it has since gained a strong cult following over the years. The film was nominated for the 1995 Filmfare Awards in four categories, including Best Film and Best Director.

In 1995 he cemented his success with Rakesh Roshan's blockbuster Karan Arjun, co-starring Shah Rukh Khan. The film was the second biggest hit of the year, and his role of Karan once again put his name among the nominees for the Best Actor award at Filmfare, which was eventually won by his co-star Shah Rukh Khan.

The year 1996 that followed saw two successes for Salman. The first one being Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directional debut Khamoshi: The Musical, co-starring Manisha Koirala, Nana Patekar and Seema Biswas. Though a box office failure, the film was critically acclaimed. Next, Salman starred alongside Sunny Deol and Karisma Kapoor in Raj Kanwar's action hit, Jeet.

He had only two releases in 1997: Judwaa and Auzaar. The former was a comedy directed by David Dhawan co-starring Karisma Kapoor, where he played a dual role of twins separated at birth. The film was a box office hit. The latter, co-starring Shilpa Shetty, failed to do well.

Salman worked in five different films in 1998, his first release being the comedy Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya opposite Kajol, one of the biggest commercial successes of that year. This was followed by the moderately successful drama Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai. He rounded of the year with Karan Johar's directorial debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Co-starring alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, he had only an extended cameo playing the role of Aman. However, it eventually turned out beneficial to him, as his performance earned him his second Filmfare Award under the Best Supporting Actor category.

In 1999 came Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in which Salman was paired opposite his then lady love Aishwarya Rai. The film was a huge success, and earned him another Best Actor nomination at Filmfare. In the same year Salman gave two other hits - Biwi No. 1 and Hum Saath-Saath Hain.

In 2000, Salman acted in six films, most of which failed critically and commercially, except for the two moderately successful films, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, both of which co-starred Rani Mukerjee and Preity Zinta. Critics noted his turn towards more serious roles, with more substance in comparison to his previous ones. In 2002 he starred in Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam which was semi-hit at the box office.

His following releases failed at the box office until he made a comeback in 2003 with Tere Naam. The film was a major earner and his performance was praised by critics. He subsequently continued his success at the box office, with comedies like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, No Entry and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya.

The year 2006 was an unsuccessful year for him when Jaan-E-Mann and Baabul both failed to do well at the box office. Sallu started 2007 with the ensemble film Salaam E Ishq which too failed at the box office.

His next release Partner was a blockbuster. He next appeared in his first Hollywood movie, Marigold: An Adventure in India opposite American actress Ali Larter. He also did cameos in Om Shanti Om and Saawariya. He starred in three films in 2008, all of which underperformed, including Heroes, Yuvvraaj, God Tussi Great Ho and Hello.

Salman's first film of 2009, Wanted directed by choreographer-turned-director Prabhu Deva was declared a smash hit in the first weekend of its release. The slick action sequences performed by Salman himself wowed fans. However, his home production Main Aurr Mrs Khanna starring Kareena Kapoor and London Dreams with Asin, failed miserably at the box office.

The year 2010 saw the release of his period drama Veer, which though spectacularly picturised, failed at the box office. In the same year Salman bounced back with the action film Dabangg. The film broke many records at the box office within the first week of its release. Made on a reported budget of 42 crore, the film has now collected 213 crore worldwide.

Salman gave his next hit Ready in June this year. The film starring Asin was a remake of the 2008 Telugu rom-com of the same name. Trade analysts say as of December 2011, the film is the seventh highest grossing Bollywood film ever, worldwide.

Salman rounded off the year in films with Bodyguard opposite Kareena Kapoor, which was also a smash hit.

The actor is now shooting for his upcoming movie Ek Tha Tiger co-starring Katrina Kaif.

We hope 2012 proves to be a great year for Salman.