Throwback to the time when Salman Khan talked about his struggle to accept Helen as his father, Salim Khan's second wife.
Salim Abdul Rashid Khan, better known as Salim Khan, is a well-known figure in Hindi cinema. Best known as one half of the screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, he was among the first screenwriters to achieve immense status in the industry. He was instrumental in defining Amitabh Bachchan’s career and gave him many hits, including Seeta Aur Geeta, Zanjeer, Deewar, Sholay, Trishul, Don, and many more.
Talking about his personal life, Salim Khan was married to Sushila Charak, also known as Salma Khan. Together, they are parents to Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Alvira Khan and Arpita Khan. Despite his first marriage to Salma, Salim later married actress, Helen, making her an integral part of the Khan family.
In a throwback interview with Filmfare, Salman Khan talked about how his father’s second marriage to Helen. He stated that his mother, Salma Khan, was hurt but accepted his decision without making an issue. The Tere Naam actor also mentioned it was difficult for him to accept Helen. In his words:
“I can’t bear to see her unhappy. She was very hurt when my father married again; I’d hate it when she’d wait up for him to come home. Then, gradually, mom started accepting it. Dad explained to us that he still loved Mom and that he’ll always be around. I was about 10 at that time and it took us quite some time to really accept Helen aunty. Today she’s a part of our family."
Salim Khan married Sushila Charak, a.k.a., Salma Khan in 1954 after a five-year-long relationship. It was love at first sight for them, and together they have three sons, Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan, and a daughter, Alvira Khan. It was in the mid-1960s when Salim helped actress, Helen bag several projects in Bollywood, which formed a great professional relationship between them.
Slowly, Salim Khan and Helen’s professional relationship blossomed into love in the late 70s, and he was ready to take it to a new level. An already-married Salim Khan wanted to marry Helen, and in 1980, they tied the knot. Helen knew she was having an affair with a married man.
The fact that Salman Khan struggled to accept Helen as his mother, she on the other, too felt guilty of marrying an already married Salim Khan. She spoke about this in a throwback interview and revealed the real reason for marrying Salim, who helped her rather than spoiling her life. In her words:
“The fact that Salim was a married man did disturb me, and I did feel guilty in the beginning. Something about Salim set him apart from the rest of the industry men. I respected him tremendously as he tried to help me out without trying to exploit me."
However, as time passed, not only Salma but also her kids accepted Helen into their family. Helen is always present at every major family event, including Salim and Salma’s recent 61st wedding anniversary. Once, Salim Khan revealed that Salman dotes on Helen, and whenever he brings a gift for his mother, Salma, he makes sure to buy the same one for Helen too.
What do you think about Salim Khan’s kids’ bond with his second wife, Helen?
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