Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, who turned 48 on Monday, with his enviable looks, acting prowess and flawless dancing skills, has been the quintessential heartthrob of the nation for almost 22 years now.

Son of filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, he made brief appearances as a child actor in several films during the 1980s and later even worked as an assistant director on some of his father’s films. Later, he made his debut as a leading actor with the landmark box office success that was ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai’ in the year 2000 and became an overnight sensation with this movie.

Today, Hrithik is among the highest-paid actors in India and has won several awards, including six Filmfares, four for Best Actor and one each for Best Debut and Best Actor (Critics). Though his Bollywood journey has had several highs and lows during the course of his career, one thing that is undeniable is the diverse roles that his filmography boasts of.

Be it Hrithik’s portrayal of the developmentally disabled Rohit Mehra in ‘Koi… Mil Gaya’ or the Mughal Emperor Akbar in ‘Jodha Akbar,’ the actor has never shied away from experimenting with his roles.

On the occasion of his 48th birthday let’s have a look back at some of the roles that define him as an actor.

1. Koi… Mil Gaya (2003)

This Rakesh Roshan directorial in a way revived Hrithik’s career after box office duds like ‘Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon’ and ‘Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage’. The film revolved around what happens when the protagonist, a simpleton whose brain functions as that of an 11-year-old, comes in contact with an extra-terrestrial being nicknamed ‘Jaadoo’.

Though it was an extremely difficult role to pull off, Hrithik’s portrayal of the innocent Rohit impressed everyone and served as strong proof of his acting capabilities.