Salman Khan, the Biggest Boss@49

A superstar in the true sense, Salman Khan is one of the most loved filmstars in the country.

As the actor turns 49 today, here is a look at his Bollywood journey.

Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan, better known as Salman Khan, was born on December 27, 1965. He is the eldest son of celebrated screenwriter Salim Khan and his first wife Salma (maiden name Sushila Charak). His stepmother is Helen, the famous yesteryear Bollywood actress, who has co-starred with him in Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999).

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

Salman remains Bollywood's most eligible bachelor despite a series of high-profile relationships with model Sangeeta Bijlani, actresses Somy Ali, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Katrina Kaif, and Romanian beauty Iulia Vantur.

Salman made his Bollywood debut with a supporting role in the movie Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988), which had Rekha playing the lead.

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

1990 saw only one film release starring Salman, Baaghi, in which he was paired opposite southern actress Nagma. The film was a box office success. He scored thrice in 1991 with the hit films Patthar Ke Phool, Sanam Bewafa and Saajan.

Despite these tremendous early box office successes, 1992-1993 was a lean patch with with films like Suryavanshi, Ek Ladka Ek Ladki, Jaagruti, Nishchaiy, Chandra Mukhi and Dil Tera Aashiq.

In 1994, a reunion with director Sooraj Barjatya proved lucky yet again. Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, co-starring Madhuri Dixit, was the biggest hit of that year and turned out to be one of Bollywood's highest grossing films ever. Apart from being a commercial success, Salman was praised for his performance, earning his second nomination for Best Actor at the Filmfare Awards.

Three more films released that year that featured Salman, none of which made a significant impact on the box office. He did however win praise for his performance in Andaaz Apna Apna, alongside co-star Aamir Khan, which has gained cult status over the years.

In 1995, Rakesh Roshan's blockbuster reincarnation and revenge themed Karan Arjun, co-starring Shah Rukh Khan, was the second biggest hit of the year. Salman's performance as Karan once again placed among the nominees for the Best Actor trophy at the Filmfare Awards, eventually won by his co-star Shah Rukh Khan.

The rest of the Nineties were marked by both hits as well as misses. 1996 saw 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. Salman next starred with Sunny Deol and Karisma Kapoor in Raj Kanwar's action hit Jeet.

Other hits included 1997's comedy Judwaa, co-starring Karisma Kapur, where he played a dual role of twins separated at birth, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kiya with Kajol, the blockbuster Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam with Aishwarya and Ajay Devgn, Biwi No 1 with Karisma and Sushmita Sen and Sooraj Barjatya's family saga Hum Saath Saath Hain in which his love interest was played by Sonali Bendre. Also memorable was Salman's guest appearance as Kajol's fiancé in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai starring SRK and directed by Karan Johar. His performance earned Salman his second Filmfare Award under the Best Supporting Actor category.

2000 was not promising. Salman acted in six films, most of which failed critically and commercially, except for the moderately successful Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, both of which co-starred Rani Mukherji and Preity Zinta. His performance in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, the release of which was delayed until 2001, was received well. The film was one of the first Bollywood movies to handle the issue of surrogate childbirth.

His next few releases sent his career graph dipping until he made a comeback in 2003 with Tere Naam. The film was a major earner and his performance was praised by critics.

Salman subsequently continued his successful run at the box office with comedies like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, No Entry and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya.

2006-2007 was a dry spell yet again with Jaan-E-Mann, Baabul and Salaam E Ishq all tanking at the box office.

However, the superhit Partner not only resurrected Salman's dwindling popularity, it also brought back actor Govinda's career from the dead. He next appeared in his first Hollywood movie Marigold: An Adventure in India opposite American actress Ali Larter. Telling the love story between an Indian man and an American woman, the film was a major failure, both commercially and critically. He also appeared cameos in Om Shanti Om and Saawariya.

None of Salman's films in 2008 did well - 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 its first weekend of release itself. His home production Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, starring Kareena Kapoor, and London Dreams failed miserably at the box office. The year 2010 saw a debacle in the form of Veer. The film was directed by Anil Sharma, and also had Mithun Chakraborty, Sohail Khan and Jackie Shroff.

However, the same year, Salman delivered the first of what was to be a string of back-to-back blockbusters, As inspector Chulbul Robinhood Pandey in the movie Dabangg, Salman reclaimed his position at the top of the box office charts. The film also launched Shatrughan Sinha's daughter Sonakshi Sinha's career.

In 2011 Salman hit the box office bullseye with Anees Bazmee's romantic comedy Ready, opposite Asin and in Bodyguard opposite Kareena Kapoor. Both movies turned out to be super hits and broke many box office records.

Ek Tha Tiger, Salman's first movie with the formidable Yash Raj Films was released on August 15, 2012. Co-starring Katrina Kaif, Ek Tha Tiger shattered box office records and became the second highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time after Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots. Salman got rave reviews for his performance as a RAW agent in the film.

Salman ended 2012 on a high note as well, with Dabangg 2 (2012), the sequel to his 2010 film Dabangg, breaking the opening weekend record of 3 Idiots.

Though 2013 did not see any releases, Salman Khan rang in 2014 with Jai Ho directed by his brother Sohail Khan. Salman starred opposite Daisy Shah in the film, which released in January and joined the much coveted Rs 100 crore club.

Salman Khan's Eid release Kick smashed box office records, minting Rs 200 crore in 11 days and becoming his biggest hit yet. Salman's role as Devi Lal Singh/Devil was much appreciated and so was his chemistry with Jacqueline Fernandez.

Salman has also carved out a niche for himself on TV, hosting two seasons of game show Dus Ka Dum and five seasons of reality show Bigg Boss. However, the superstar will no longer be hosting the ongoing eighth season of Bigg Boss come January, due to his hectic shooting schedule for Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

Apart from films, Salman Khan has also been involved with charitable work. He founded the NGO Being Human, which sells merchandise to raise funds for the underprivileged.

In 2011, he launched his own production house Salman Khan Being Human Productions which raised money to be donated to Being Human. National Award winning movie Chillar Party was released under the banner.

Salman joined PM Narendra Modi's Clean India drive in 2014 and also met PM Modi at his residence while he was in Delhi shooting for Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan in November.

This image was posted on Twitter by Salman Khan Fan Club

However, Salman has a dark side that has seen him in several skirmishes with the law. He is currently being tried in a 2002 hit-and-run case in which he is accused of ramming an SUV into a Mumbai bakery, killing one person sleeping on the pavement.

Salman has also been charged with hunting endangered chinkara and blackbuck while shooting Hum Saath Saath Hain in Rajasthan in 1998.

Salman is known to be generous to a fault but he also makes for a bitter enemy. He conducted a public feud with co-star and once-friend Shah Rukh Khan for six years, punctuated with a handful of photographed hugs at iftaar parties that seemed to indicate the beginnings of a thaw. However, that thaw arrived only this year, at a pre-wedding function for his sister Arpita. This photo, from Arpita's Mumbai haldi ceremony, made big news. The warring stars ended the feud, sealing it with a kiss to Arpita's forehead.

This image was posted on Twitter by Atul Agnihotri

The highlight of 2014 was when the three reigning Khans of Bollywood - SRK, Salman and Aamir - were spotted on the same stage at the 21st anniversary celebrations of TV anchor Rajat Sharma's show Aap ki Adaalat, on December 2 in Delhi.

Salman will next be seen in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, opposite Kareena Kapoor, and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, opposite Sonam Kapoor, in 2015.

Here's wishing Salman a very happy birthday.