'Hungama' For Khanna: Akshaye Turns 36!

He created a Hungama at the box office with his flawless acting skills, whooshed past many of his contemporaries in the B'Town Race and turning on the charm is certainly No Problem for this dashing Khanna scion. As Akshaye Khanna turns 36 (28th March), he adds one more year to his already marvellous innings in B'Town!

Second of Vinod Khanna's three sons, Akshaye was born to the former heartthrob and his then wife Geetanjali in Mumbai. The younger brother of actor Rahul Khanna, Akshaye trained at the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute in Mumbai before making his big screen debut opposite Anjala Zaveri in Himalay Putra in 1997.

Though the film failed to click at the box office, Akshaye struck gold with his next release, J. P. Dutta's multi starrer Border. The young actor stood out amongst the star studded cast and even won the Filmfare Best Debut Award that year.

Border was followed by a string of unsuccessful flicks such as Mohabbat, Kudrat, Laawaris, Love You Hamesha and Dahek: A Burning Passion'. Akshaye's seemingly waning career took a massive U turn in 1999 with Rishi Kapoor's Aa Ab Laut Chalen, and Subhash Ghai's Taal, both opposite Aishwarya Rai. While the former did average business at the box office, Khanna's performance was greatly appreciated and Taal was a critical and commercial success.

Akshaye's sincere portrayal of the young man in love with an older woman played by Dimple Kapadia in Dil Chahta Hai (2001) earned him the Filmfare Award for 'Best Supporting Actor' that year. The very next year he attempted a negative role in Abbas Mustan's Humraaz and made his foray into comedy with Priyadarshan's Hungama and Hulchul.

Most of his films after that including Shaadi Se Pehle, Aap Ki Khatir, 36 China Town, Salaam e Ishq: A Tribute To Love and Gandhi, My Father were met with tepid responses at the box office, even though critics acknowledged his marvellous performance in Gandhi. Akshaye's unlucky streak was broken with Abbas Mustan's thriller Race which went on become a super hit and one of 2008's highest grossing films.

In 2010, he appeared in Anees Bazmee's No Problem, Priyadarshan's Aakrosh and Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan.

Akshaye's personal life hardly occupies any print space in tabloids and the dimpled actor protects his privacy with great ferocity.

On his 36th birthday, we wish Akshaye much happiness and hope that the actor with twinkling eyes crosses every Border and scales every Deewaar to solidify his position at the pinnacle of B'Town!