Abhishek turns 31, spends birthday on set of 'Drona' in Bikaner

New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) It has been a fruitful beginning of the year for Abhishek Bachchan, what with Mani Rathnam's 'Guru' winning him box office success and critical acclaim in equal measure and his engagement last month with Aishwarya Rai, one of the most beautiful women in Bollywood.

However, for those expecting the Junior Bachchan to ring in his birthday with ''all pomp and show'' were in for a surprise.

For even as the he turned 31 today, it was "all work and no play" for the new teenage heartthrob of Bollywood.

On the occasion of his 31st birthday, Abhishek Bachchan was busy shooting for his forthcoming film 'Drona' at Bikaner in Rajasthan, trade sources said.

However, the cast and crew of the film, which is being produced and directed by his childhood buddy Goldie Behl, wished Abhishek a happy birthday by cutting a birthday cake at the stroke of midnight yesterday.

Also springing a surprise on the Junior Bachchan was father Amitabh Bachchan, who specially flew in from Mumbai to Bikaner along with family friend and Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh.

Though Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek's mother Jaya Bachchan were not there to wish Abhishek in person, trade sources said that they wished him happy birthday on the phone.

On January 14, Abhishek got engaged to Aishwarya Rai after months of speculations in the media about their relationship.

Careerwise too the year has started on a highly encouraging note for the junior Bachchan with his role of Gurunath Desai in Mani Rathnam's 'Guru', said to be modelled on the life of business magnate Dhirubhai Ambani, winning him accolades galore with critics describing his performance in the film, where he co-stars with Aishwarya Rai, as his career's best.

UNI