Mumbai, Thursday, November 13, 2008: She is the original ‘bubbly’ girl who can even give effervescence an inferiority complex, with her most endearing smile. She is none other than Juhi Chawla, today’s Birthday Girl. This cutie made her dream debut with the smash hit ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’, and with this very film itself, she became the dream of every cinegoer! During her heydays, her mere name in the film was good (read ‘best’) enough for the theater owners to laugh all the way till the bank.

Even though she has bid adieu to Bollywood (thanks to her marriage to the suave business magnate Jay Mehta), the cine goers just do not seem to be in a mood to see her off Bollywood! Maybe that explains the reasons why she was recently seen (in prominent roles as ever) in films like ‘Bhootnath’, ‘Kismat Konnection’, ‘Krazzy 4’ etc.

Juhi made a splash by winning the Miss India title in 1984 at the tender age of 17. Sultanat in 1986 was her debut film, but the legendary romantic film Qayamat se Qayamat Tak is considered her real debut as it thrust her and debutante Aamir Khan to superstardom. A few less successful films followed to make way for her special appearance in Chandni, which was a big, hit.

1992 was a special year for her as it paired her opposite SRK in Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. Director Aziz Mirza and actors SRK and Juhi Chawla developed a special friendship, which would later expand into a business partnership. And Aziz doesn’t make a movie without SRK or Juhi Chawla (Juhi played the adorable and colourful hippie crystal ball reader Haseena Bano Jaan and SRK did the narration in Kismat Konnection) Juhi also starred in the successful Bol Radha Bol alongside Rishi Kapoor that year.

Juhi won her first Filmfare Award for her spirited performance opposite Aamir Khan in Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke and she also won accolades for her girl-next door avatar in Aaina.

Juhi has always been known as a spontaneous and lively actress. Her million watt smile can melt hearts and how. Juhi was never slim but she was popular solely on the basis of her acting, her pretty face and her real, warm persona and effortless charm. She has been compared with Hema Malini and Sridevi for her fantastic comic timing. Such was her talent!

She and hubby Jay are co-owners of the Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders along with buddy Shah Rukh Khan. The mother of two also has a few endorsements up her sleeve: Leher Kurkure and Dena Bank and will be seen in Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance next.