Actor Emraan Hashmi, who celebrates his birthday today, said that this birthday was special to him because his career has taken an upward swing and he was finally being recognized as an A-list actor.

“After a struggle of eight years, it feels like I’ve finally found my voice in the industry. I have found paths that I’ve always wanted to walk on ever since I became an actor,” said the actor to a daily.

The actor though immediately added that he wasn’t bitter about his struggling years.

“Well, everyone’s life takes its own course and I am a firm believer in destiny, so I think I am happy with it charting a way for me. I certainly don’t want to change that,” he said.

The actor, who was offered only sex-oriented films earlier, has now made a mark for himself and is one of the sought out actor by few of the big names in industries.

The actor though said that the upward swing in his career wasn’t overnight and he had to work hard on it.

“Nothing’s happened overnight. There’s been more of an organic growth in my work as an actor. First, there was ‘Murder’, then ‘Jannat’ that brought me back from the lull, then 'Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji’ and ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai’ — all helped me at those points in life,” he said.

He said that his failures kept him grounded and encouraged him to push himself harder.

“My failures kept me grounded, but my success made me feel it was all worth it, so I have nothing to complain,” said the actor.

The actor has few big movies like 'Jannat 2', ‘Ghanchakkar’, ‘Shanghai’, ‘Daayan’ and ‘Raaz 3’ under his belt.