Bollywood star Kajol turns 41

Celebrating Kajol's birthday, a hashtag '#HappyBirthdayKajol' is currently trending on micro blogging site Twitter.

Born in the year 1974 to actress Tanuja and writer, producer and director Shomu Mukherjee, Kajol belongs from the famous Mukherjee-Samarth family that enjoys Bollywood royalty. Her acting gene dates back to the 1930’s, when her great grandmother Rattan Bai decided to ply her trade in the movie industry.

Kajol’s maternal grandmother Shobhna Samarth established herself as an actress and so did her children Nutan and Tanuja. Her paternal side too is full of people belonging to the same fraternity. Her uncles Deb and Joy acted with some distinction. Rani, her cousin, is a leading actress and a popular face in Bollywood.

Kajol was still a teenager when she debuted with Bekhudi in 1992. The following year, Baazigar hit the screens and it led to a great many things. The movie catapulted both the leads, Shah Rukh and Kajol in the limelight and most importantly it marked the beginning of a successful onscreen pair.

Throughout that decade Kajol dished out strong performances in movies like Karan Arjun, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Gupt: The Hidden Truth, Ishq, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Gupt earned her a Filmfare Award for Best Performance in A Negative Role.

Kajol married fellow actor Ajay Devgn in 1999 and took a hiatus from movies, a step criticised by many since she was at the peak of her career at that point of time. Kajol made a strong comeback with the Aamir Khan starrer Faana (2006). Her portrayal of a blind college girl earned her an IIFA Award.

Kajol has won a total of six Filmfare Awards and jointly holds the record, (5) for the most wins under the Best Actress category along with her late aunt Nutan. She has also won 2 IIFA Awards among several others awards given out for cinema.

Khan and Kajol have starred in 6 films together, all achieving blockbuster status. Their latest, Dilwale, is slated for a December 18 release.

Early in her career, though she bowled many with her acting chops, her dressing sense or the lack of it was a source of constant criticism. The new decade have witnessed the doe eyed beauty trading her ill-fitted clothes for better tailored ones.

The mother of two, Kajol is also a social worker, undertaking various issues, her latest a hand washing campaign by Lifebuoy. She is also a Padma Shri awardee, having received it in the year 2011.