Beginning his career with the box-office dud "Refugee" (2000) and finally finding rapport with audiences in blockbuster "Bluffmaster" (2005), Abhishek has certainly come a long way.

The awards, endorsements and projects that have come his way have ensured that the son of legendary Amitabh Bachchan has finally come out of his father's shadow.

The commercial success of "Dhoom" and "Bunty Aur Babli" are widely seen as turning points in Abhishek's career path. But Abhishek's hidden potential was first unmasked in Mani Ratnam's "Yuva" in which he played an extremely violent street fighter Lallan Singh.

He entered Bollywood carrying the heavy baggage of his superstar father's larger-than-life image on his shoulders. Comparisons were inevitable and when he gave a string of flops, he was completely written off.

Mani Ratnam's "Yuva", however, gave him a new lease of life. He played a crude ruffian and got under the skin of the character with ease and confidence, stunning the critics with the performance. The film won him the Filmfare best supporting actor award and consolidated his place in the industry.

He followed up "Yuva" with "Phir Milenge" in which he essayed the role of a lawyer who becomes a believer and at the end is the only pillar of strength. "Phir Milenge" showed that "Yuva" was not just the result of a talented director getting the most of his cast.

Ram Gopal Varma's experimental small-budget film "Naach" came next in which he matched his intensity with Antara Mali's steps.

After that there was no looking back for Abhishek. He featured in Yash Chopra's "Dhoom", one of the biggest hits in 2004, as a cool cop and was impressive. It was followed by Ram Gopal Varma's "Sarkar", a Hindi remake of Hollywood flick "The Godfather".

"Sarkar" was out and out Amitabh Bachchan's film and there was little room for the son to showcase his talent. But he managed to make an impact on the viewers and the film also helped him in coming out of the shadows of his iconic father.

The father-son duo were seen together again in Shaad Ali's "Bunty Aur Babli", one of the top grosser of 2005.

The out-and-out commercial hit brought the crown of hit-hero to Abhishek. His act as the pan-chewing government middleman who sells the Taj Mahal to a foreigner, won him award for the best comic act.

Not only was his paring with his father appreciated by the viewers, they also enjoyed watching him with Rani Mukerji with whom he shared a great chemistry in "Yuva". The audience voted them 'Jodi No. 1' in the STAR Screen Awards this year.

But Abhishek hit the bull's eye with Rohan Sippy's "Bluffmaster" in the role of a small-town con man. He has gone on to establish himself as a cool dude and is credited for bringing the retrosexual look in vogue.

Not so long ago, brand image-makers could not think of a product match for Abhishek. When Maruti Versa took him on, they needed his megastar father to accompany. So as Abhishek drove his father around, Amitabh made the final sale pitch.

Finally, post "Bunty Aur Babli" and "Sarkar", where he held his own opposite Amitabh himself, Abhishek is a solo brand. As the brand ambassador of Ford's latest offering in India, the Ford Fiesta, brand Abhishek has arrived.

For Ford, Abhishek is the perfect match for their youth-targetted mid-size luxury car. Of course, he is nowhere near the number of endorsement's under Amitabh's belt but seems like he has taken the first step in that direction.

As far as films are concerned, he has in his kitty J.P. Dutta's "Umrao Jaan" with Aishwarya Rai, Karan Johar's "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" with his father, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani and Preity Zinta and "Dhoom 2", the sequel to "Dhoom".

Abhishek has arrived as the hottest metro-sexual star whose suave and sophisticated looks have bowled over his fans and they are asking for more.