Madhuri Dixit, born on May 15, 1967, made her acting debut with the Rajshri film Abodh in 1984, which was a box office failure. In 1985, Madhuri Dixit starred with Rajesh Khanna and Meenakshi Seshadri in the movie Awara Baap which also turned out to be a dud at the box office. In 1986, Dixit was part of further flop ventures - Swathi starring Shashi Kapoor and Manav Hatya with Akshay Anand. (All photos/mid-day archives)

1987 completed a hat-trick of disastrous years for Madhuri Dixit. She did Mohre with Nana Patekar, Hifazat with Anil Kapoor and Uttar Dakshin with Rajinikanth and Jackie Shroff.

The tide finally turned for Madhuri Dixit with Tezaab (1988). She never looked back following the success of N. Chandra's film, and till date is referred to as the Ekk Do Teen girl.

Madhuri Dixit with 90s co-star Aamir Khan with whom she did Dil and Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin. Madhuri won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance in the former. Furthermore, Dil's soundtrack was also a hit with the tracks Mujhe Neend Na Aaye and Hum Ne Ghar Chora Hai becoming quite popular with listeners.

Madhuri relocated to Denver, Colorado in the United States after tying the knot in 1999 with Dr Shriram Nene, who is a cardiovascular surgeon from Los Angeles, California. In picture: Madhuri Dixit and husband Shriram Nene with former Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and his wife Vaishali during the actor's wedding reception in 1999.

A file picture of Madhuri Dixit with her two children Arin and Ryan Nene. Arin was born on March 2003 and Ryan was born on March 2005.

Late painter MF Husain, who was enchanted by Madhuri Dixit's beauty, in a conversation with the actor. Madhuri played the lead role in Gaja Gamini (2000), directed by Husain. He was so fascinated by Dixit in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! that he watched the film 67 times, and in 2007 he booked an entire theatre to see her comeback movie Aaja Nachle.

Here's a look some candid pictures of Madhuri Dixit from her younger days!

A file picture of Madhuri Dixit with her husband Shriram Nene and their son. Interestingly, prior to their wedding, Shriram was unaware of his to-be wife's celebrity status.

Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor in Jamai Raja (1990). The duo became a popular on-screen lead pair in several popular Bollywood films of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor in Kishen Kanhaiya (1990). They have starred together in Hifazat (1987), Tezaab (1988), Parinda (1989), Ram Lakhan (1989), Jeevan Ek Sanghursh (1990), Pratikar (1991), Khel (1992), Zindagi Ek Juaa (1992), Beta (1992), Rajkumar (1996) and Pukar (2000).

Madhuri Dixit and Om Puri in a still from Dharavi (1991). The film won many awards in the following year, including the 1992 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and was also invited at the London Film Festival, Mannheim International Film Festival and Festival 3 Continents Nantes the same year. It also starred Shabana Azmi and featured Anil Kapoor in a cameo.

Madhuri Dixit at a press conference for the 1993 film Khalnayak. Also seen in the picture: Jackie Shroff (with eyes closed), Anupam Kher, Sanjay Dutt and Subhash Ghai.

Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt in a still from Khalnayak (1993). The film was the second-highest-grossing Hindi film of 1993 and the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of the 90s decade. The tracks Choli Ke Peeche and Nayak Nahi were chartbusters.

Kalpana Iyer and Madhuri Dixit in Anjaam (1994). Madhuri was paired up with Shah Rukh Khan for the first time in the film, which famously had SRK portraying a character with negative shades, for which he bagged the Filmfare Best Villain Award.

Madhuri Dixit and Rishi Kapoor in Prem Granth (1996). Both also starred together in Sahibaan (1993) and Yaarana (1995).

Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan in Koyla (1997). SRK and Madhuri would share the screen in Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), which also starred Karisma Kapoor and Akshay Kumar, Gaja Gamini, Devdas, which also had Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Jackie Shroff as cast members and Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam.

Madhuri Dixit, Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar in Aarzoo (1999). The film also starred Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal and Reema Lagoo. It was filmed in Mumbai, London and Edinburgh. Directed by Lawrence D'Souza, Aarzoo was not successful at the box-office.

Devdas (2002) duo Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Despite receiving mixed reviews this adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic novel was critically acclaimed among western film critics and is considered as one of the greatest films ever made.

Madhuri Dixit at an event with Pooja Bhatt, Sanjay Kapoor and Raveena Tandon.

Madhuri Dixit playing with children at an event. She was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by the Government of India in 2008.

Madhuri Dixit with renowned choreographer Saroj Khan. Saroj who choreographed most of Dixit's early hits, after working with her again in Gulaab Gang was all praise for the actress and called her the 'choreographer's delight'.

Madhuri Dixit and her parents with DJ Aqeel and his wife Farah Khan Ali.

Madhuri Dixit seeks the blessings of the late Bal Thackeray.

Here's wishing a very happy birthday to Madhuri Dixit!