Born on September 14, 1984, in Chandigarh, Ayushmann Khurrana isn't just a brilliant actor, but also a fabulous singer. The 36-year-old has made a mark in Bollywood with his real and relevant performances in significant films that get people thinking. (All pictures/Ayushmann Khurrana's Instagram account)

Ayushmann is the older of two sons born to Anita and P. Khurrana. Did you know his parents had named him Nishant when he was born? They changed it to Ayushmann when he was 3-years-old. Ayushmann has a younger brother, Aparshakti, who is three years his junior.

Pictured: A 7-year-old Ayushmann with his mum, dad and younger brother. He captioned the photo: "Major throwback. Circa 1991. Khurranas are looking like D'Mellos [sic]"

Ayushmann Khurrana may be known as a stellar actor today, but his career took off after his stint in MTV Roadies. Ayushmann was the winner of Roadies 2, in 2004, at the age of 20. After this, he started working as a radio jockey at a popular radio station, followed by becoming a video jockey on MTV.

Pictured: Ayushmann when he was a VJ with Bani J and Jagjit.

Ayushmann Khurrana forayed into Bollywood with his first, and most notable film, Vicky Donor in 2012. Not only did he act in the film, but he also sang one of better-known songs from the film titled 'Paani da rang'. It was the debut of actress Yami Gautam too, and the pair shared incredible chemistry in the movie. After Vicky Donor, Ayushmann was seen in many critically acclaimed films such as Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Andhadhun, and more.

Pictured: Ayushmann Khurrana with his Dum Laga Ke Haisha co-star Bhumi Pednekar.

Ayushmann Khurrana tied the knot with Tahira Kashyap, who has directed a critically acclaimed movie, Toffee. Ayushmann and Tahira were childhood sweethearts and share a son and daughter. Tahira Kashyap was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer in 2018. In an interview, Ayushmann revealed that they got to know about Tahira's cancer diagnosis on his birthday. He said, "It was difficult. Thanks to her, that she was brave enough to take it positively. I was in the middle of promoting these two films last year, Andhadhun and Badhaai Ho. And we got to know about it on my birthday."

Here are Ayushmann and Tahira's cutie pies, their son and daughter. Their son, Virajveer, was born on January 2, 2012, and his daughter, Varushka, was born on April 21, 2014. Ayushmann captioned this photo, "This one is for the supreme brother-sister bond. #Rakshabandhan [sic]"

Ayushmann's younger brother Aparshakti Khurrana made his Bollywood debut with Dangal, in which he played the role of Aamir Khan's nephew. Talking about brother Ayushmann, Aparshakti told mid-day, "Ayush bhai offers me a reality check when it comes to acting and singing. He scolds me, telling me I'm not ready. Bhai is strict. Although today it seems like things are half-sorted [in my career], he will still call at 10 pm asking me to go to bed if I have an early shoot [the next day]. Papa yells at bhai the way he yells at me. I'm happy when that happens [laughs]. But, bhabhi has always encouraged me (sic)."

Aparshakti further added, "Their different energies help me. Her support and his [yelling] keep me focused. If bhai doesn't like a song, he will say it's s**t. In the past, when I've sent him a few compositions, he hasn't even replied. I understand [he's being] honest, and
accept it." 

Pictured: Ayushmann Khurrana performs at an event.

In an interview with mid-day, Ayushmann revealed the kind of cinema he would probably avoid doing. He said, "I may not do a formula film. But, what I do now is my formula. What I want to do though is a Kishore Kumar biopic, and sing my own songs. That's on my bucket list. I'd also love to try action."

Ayushmann Khurrana's Article 15, was centred around caste discrimination in society. It was reportedly based on the Badaun Case [gangrape and murder of two teenage girls in UP that CBI concluded as suicide].

Pictured: Ayushmann clicks a selfie with Amitabh Bachchan.

"A film like Article 15 compelled me to put my voice behind it because it is cinema that needs to be made and seen. It is cinema for the entire country, for the youth to notice," Ayushmann said in a statement. 

Pictured: A younger Ayushmann looking all smug and cute!

He further said, "As an artiste, you sometimes get a film that demands you to back it wholeheartedly because it is trying to make a strong statement because it is trying to affect social change by starting a conversation." Article 15 released on June 28, 2019.

Ayushmann Khurana also won his first National Film Award for his act as a blind pianist in Andhadhun. "It's truly humbling and hugely gratifying to win the coveted National Award..."

"As an artiste, I have always tried to back disruptive content that stands out for its quality content," Ayushmann said, after the announcement of the awards. Ayushmann shared the National Award with Vicky Kaushal, who won it for his film Uri: The Surgical Strike.

Ayushmann Khurrana's Dream Girl, opposite Nushrat Bharucha, hit theatres on September 13, 2019. Ayushmann had slipped into the character of a girl named Pooja in Dream Girl. He played a guy who can speak in a mesmerising female voice.

Ayushmann's next offering after that was Bala, and the audience had been waiting with bated breath to catch this one in theatres! The film, released in November 2019, followed the story of a young man suffering from premature balding (Ayushmann Khurrana), and a dark-skinned small-town girl and the struggles she faces due to her skin tone (Bhumi Pednekar). Bala also starred Yami Gautam in a pivotal role.

Ayushmann Khurrana's first film of 2020 was Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, which is a same-sex love story. In a chat with mid-day, Ayushmann shared, "I have seen my perspective about the LGBTQ community evolve [over the years]. I slowly recognised the societal stigma and stereotypes associated with the community, and it pained me." The film also starred Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao and Jitendra Kumar in pivotal roles and met with decent response from the audience.

Ayushmann was last seen in Shoojit Sircar's Gulabo Sitabo, which also stars Amitabh Bachchan in the lead. The comedy-drama was about a hilarious land dispute set in a charming old haveli called 'Fatema Mahal'. Amitabh Bachchan played 'Mirza', while Ayushmann plays 'Bankey'. The film, which saw a digital release, owing to cinema halls being shut due to the coronavirus pandemic, met with a good response.

Here's wishing a very happy birthday to Ayushmann Khurrana!