Ask the actor-director, and he'll give you a three-letter word that describes him: shy.

Here is one man who never quite learnt how to 'act' like a star -- tantrums, attitude et al.

Here is one man who, as superstar Dharmendra's son, battled long to live up to, even exceed, his father's image.

1984. Sohni Mahiwal was released. The film, as his performance, left much to be desired.

1985. Betaab opposite Amrita Singh was released. A superhit. Bollywood found a potential romantic star in the making.

1985. Arjun proved to be a major turning point -- Sunny emerged an action hero.

Followed Dacait, Yateem andTridev. Rose Sunny as an intense angry young man, even compared to superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

Tumbled his films like a stack of cards at the BO.

Adding to his woes was a recurring back problem. A spell of films and a treatment in London later, Sunny Deol bounced was back in action, with the superhit Ghayal.

His association with director Rajkumar Santoshi proved fruitful as he won accolades and awards for Ghayal and Damini.

The next phase had Sunny Deol, the actor, taking a backseat to Sunny Deol, big brother.

He devoted his energies to launching kid brother Bobby's debut Barsaat.

Nevertheless, it was no hindrance to the hat-trick success of Jeet, Ziddi and Border.

His ambitious foray as a director in London, which was later changed to Dillagi, was not a successful one.

But what is noteworthy is that Sunny came full circle. Dillagi and Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin, saw the re-emergence of the debonair romantic.

Why a Sunny Deol recci now? Elementary. It is his birthday, after all.

And this is the rediff.com way of celebrating birthdays!

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Text: Sukanya Verma