The eldest son on writer Salim Khan (of Salim-Javed fame) was born on 27th December, 1965 in Mumbai. Yet, unlike most of his contemporaries, there seems to have been little plotting and planning in Salman's career. In fact, he made an unconventional debut as Farouque Shaikh's younger brother in 'Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988) and no one noticed. The following year came 'Maine Pyaar Kiya', and his life changed forever. Sooraj Barjatya's syrupy romance turned Salman into a teen icon. Every producer with money in his pocket wanted to sign the star on the dotted line.

A decade later, there are die-hard loyalists who swear by him despite his alleged mood swings. Be it Sooraj Barjatya, Sanjay Bhansali or even David Dhawan. In fact, Salman is the only star who has struck a successful rapport with the plump director apart from Govinda, his eternal favourite. Remember the laugh-a-minute riot 'Judwaa' (1997)? Or for that matter 'Biwi No. 1', and their latest, 'Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge' which has also notched up a good opening. Similarly, Barjatya won't hear of signing anyone else as his film's hero. And although Madhuri Dixit walked off with all the accolades for her mesmeric presence in 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' (1994), it was to Salman's credit that he gracefully played second fiddle and let her hog the show. Soon after playing the chocolate-boy hero in 'HAHK', Salman switched over to action-heavy flicks like Rakesh Roshan's 'Karan Arjun' and K K Singh's 'Veergati'. And gradually, the shirt started coming off more frequently.

So much so, many people believe it was Salman's pumped up body in the chart-topper "O, o jaane jaanaa" that helped brother Sohail's debut production 'Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya' (1998), set the box-office on fire. But when it comes to performing, he's been at his best with director Sanjay Bhansali. 'Khamoshi' (1996) brought Salman's acting abilities to the fore for the first time. As the sensitive music composer who loves Annie (Manisha Koirala), the daughter of deaf and dumb parents, he displayed a remarkable degree of maturity. Similarly, his Sameer Rosselini in 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' was a thoroughly charming character.

In what must be the ugliest time of his public life, Salman was arrested in Rajasthan towards the end of 1998, while he was shooting for Barjatya's 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' for poaching endangered wild animals after allegedly shooting a rare black antelope near Jodhpur. In 2000, he was arrested by police under the charge of having connection with underworld mafia. In 2002, Khan was arrested again, this time for culpable homicide following the death of a man in a car accident in Bombay. He was found to be not guilty.

Today he is a sought after hero, working with almost all top banners. On the personal front, Khan had lovely ladies as his women. Salman's love story began with Sangeeta Bijlani and had a well publicised affair with Aishwarya Rai. Salman Khan is supposed to be one of the handsome hero in the industry having many good productions and directors so that he can give many hits and prove himself to be in the class of number one hero's. In a recently issued American magazine Salman was voted as the seventh best looking man in the world.