Salman Khan, who turned 40 Tuesday, has had a trying year but his close friends are determined to stand by him through thick and thin.

One of them is producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who has known Salman for 15 years and feels that he is a far cry from the person he is made out to be.

Says Sajid; "He's probably the most misunderstood person. His reticence with people who don't understand him is probably mistaken for arrogance but the actual person beneath the surface is one who is very sensitive and good at heart. As a person, he's very honest, one who believes in calling a spade a spade.

"He's not the kind who'll indulge in backbiting, if he wants to say something he'll do so on the face. Apart from that, he's a very private person who likes to stick to his group of friends and stands by them through thick and thin."

Sajid first met Salman on the sets of "Jeet". "The film was shot extensively in Switzerland and we connected from the first instance. During the shoot of the film we got fairly acquainted with each other. We would go out cycling together in the picturesque lanes there and by the end of the shoot, we had become great friends."

Subsequently, he made three more films with Salman -- "Judwaa", "Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega" and "Mujhse Shaadi Karogi".

"Currently, I am shooting "Jaaneman" with him and I intend to continue working with him," he says.

Here's wishing Salman all the very best and a promising year ahead on his birthday.