Twinkle Shines Bright@40

Actress-interior designer Twinkle Khanna, who shares her birthday with her superstar father Rajesh Khanna, turns a year older today. From being a talented artiste to a doting homemaker and mother, she has managed her life with utmost perfection. Let's have a pictorial look at her journey as she turns 40.

Twinkle, born Tina Jatin Khanna on December 29, 1974, is the elder daughter of veteran actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia. She has a younger sister Rinke.

Twinkle followed in the footsteps of her parents and made her Bollywood debut with Barsaat, opposite actor Bobby Deol, in 1995. The film was a smashing hit at the box office and also won Twinkle the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

In 1996, Twinkle featured in another super hit, Jaan, opposite actor Ajay Devgn. She played the role of Kajal, the grand daughter of an honest cop in the film. The same year, she was also seen in Lawrence D'Souza's Dil Tera Diwana opposite Saif Ali Khan.

In 1997, Twinkle starred opposite Ajay Devgn in Raj Kanwar's Itihaas but the film failed to create any impact at the box office.

1998's Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai opposite Salman Khan featured her as the true love of Sooraj Dhanrajgir (played by Salman Khan), a womaniser who transforms his erratic ways after being smitten by Komal Sinha (played by Twinkle Khanna).

The year 1999 was a good year for Twinkle. She starred opposite Akshay Kumar, now her husband, in International Khiladi, the sixth installment the Khiladi series. Twinkle played the role of a news reporter in the action thriller, which was a hit at the box office. She was also seen with Akshay in Zulmi the same year but the film didn't do well at the box office. In 1999, she starred in Telugu film Seenu.

Twinkle Khanna starred opposite actor Shah Rukh Khan in Abbas-Mustan's 1999 thriller comedy Baadshah. The film got an excellent opening and was a worlwide hit. She was next seen in Mahesh Bhatt's Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan, a remake of Michael J Fox's 1987 movie The Secret of My Success. The film starred Twinke and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles but failed to impress the masses.

In 2000, Twinkle played Aamir Khan and Faisal Khan's leading lady in Mela. The film was inpired by the 1971 hit Caravan but failed miserably at the box office. Her Joru Ka Ghulam, opposite Govinda the same year, did well at the box office. She also made a special appearance in Chal Mere Bhai starring Karisma Kapoor, Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt in 2000.

The year 2001 brought success for Twinkle Khanna professionally. Twinkle and Govinda recreated their magic at the box office with their film Jodi No. 1, directed by David Dhawan, which was a success at the box office. She was also seen in multi-starrer hit film Love Ke Liye Kucch Bhi Karega.

The year also brought marital bliss for Twinkle and she married Akshay Kumar on January 17, 2001 after featuring in 18 films through her career.

Twinkle took up a career in interior designing after marriage and launched her design store The White Window, in partnership with her longtime friend Gurlein Manchanda, in 2002.

She also became a mother the same year, giving birth to her son Aarav in September.

Twinkle Khanna also tried her hand at producing films. She produced the films Tees Maar Khan (2010) and Patiala House (2011), both starring her husband Akshay Kumar in the lead role.

Twinkle gave birth to her daughter Nitara Khanna in 2012.

Twinkle is also a columnist for a leading daily and is also active on the social networking site Twitter on which she debuted as mrsfunnybones this year.

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