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Salim Khan, erstwhile actor and then big-name writer, had been admitted to a city hospital on February 17, and is said to be recovering after a minor brain hemorrhage. The father to Salman, Arbaaz and Sohail Khan and sisters Alvira and Arpita (who is adopted) was put on ventilator on Wednesday and is “stable but under close observation” as per a recent update.
Salim Khan celebrated his 90th birthday on November 24, 2025. As part of the famous writer duo Salim-Javed, he has co-written films like Haathi Mere Saathi, Seeta Aur Geeta, Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay, Don, Trishul, Kranti and Mr. India. Before forming a team with Javed, he also wrote Do Bhai, and among the films later, he had written Naam. As Prince Salim, an actor, a few of his films include Professor, Teesri Manzil and the 1960s Dillagi.
Salim Khan’s first marriage was to Sushila Charak (then christened Salma Khan, but still a practicing Hindu) and second wedding is with character artiste Helen, with whom he fell in love and married after he became her confidante when she was going through bad times.
On Koimoi.com’s Instagram, we find Salim Khan’s revelation in an interview of how he had broken the news to his children and how they had reacted. He recounted, “When I told her (Salma), she obviously didn’t shake hands with me and told me what a wonderful thing I was doing. Of course, we had problems, but for a very short time. After that, everything was accepted.”
“I told my children at that time, when they were very young, that they won’t understand it now, but when they grow up they would. I told them, ‘I have got another person in my life. I have married her. I do not expect anything from you. I don’t expect you to love her as much as you love your mother, but I want you to give her the same respect,’” he added.”
Salim Khan then credited Salma for taking care of everything and handling things the way she did back then. Recalling his decisions, he further admitted that these things do not function on technicality. He committed to it and tackled it with honesty. There has never been an issue between him and his children regarding his second marriage.
Helen had acted in the Salim-Javed films Sholay, Imaan Dharam, Don and Dostana. The entire family, including Salma and Helen, with their children and their families and kids, are known to celebrate festivals across religions in their homes, notably Ganesh Chaturthi and Christmas apart from Eid. A big idol of Lord Ganesh stands just inside the Salim Khan home.
Salim Khan always referred to veteran character artiste Ajit as his mentor in cinema. He was close to Manoj Kumar and Mahesh Bhatt is among his close friends. He is said to have supported Shah Rukh Khan during his struggling days and is an unabashed admirer of lyricist Anand Bakshi.
Some years ago, the police had given him Z-grade (the topmost level) security cover from his own religion’s fanatics! Salim Khan was a man who never believed in religion as something apart from very personal and had openly expressed his views as a columnist.
