Veteran filmmaker Salim Khan, known for his memorable action films like ‘Sholay’, ‘Deewaar’, ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Don’, and more, found love with Helen, Bollywood’s dancing diva. Their relationship and marriage was not a simple story, as Salim was already married to Salma Khan and had children when he decided to marry Helen.In an earlier interview with Salim’s son, Arbaaz Khan, on the show ‘The Invincibles’, Helen opened up about career, her relationship and the challenges it posed for Salim’s first wife, Salma Khan.
Helen reflected on earlier days
When Arbaaz Khan asked Helen about her famous dance numbers in films and why she quit her career, she said, “I was very lucky to be able to continue dancing (in films) till the age of 42. People used to think that ‘film industry main kaam nahi karna chahiye, yeh achi baat nahi hai (working in films was not considered a good thing at that time)’. The heroines practically took over, they started wearing clothes that no heroine would wear in those days. It was my destiny, – this much Helen and no further.”
Helen acknowledged Salma’s struggles
Arbaaz then asked Helen if it was around the same time that she met Salim Khan, his father. Helen replied, “He (Salim) gave me a role (in a film). We became friends, mummy was very nice; (it must have been tough) for your mom, she must have gone through a lot at that time. I think destiny brought me close to all of you and I must thank all of you… I never ever wanted a separation from the family (for Salim).”
Arbaaz noted Salma’s dignity during challenges
Arbaaz Khan also spoke about his mother’s role during this time, In one of the episodes of the docu-series ‘Angry Young Men’ he said, “My mother never influenced us to think or say anything against our father. She had her troubles, but she never influenced us to think, ‘Your dad is like this,’ or, ‘This is what he is doing.’ Never.”
The Khan family
Salim and Salma, whose original name was Sushila Charak, married in 1954. Together, they have three sons, actor Salman Khan, actor-producer Arbaaz Khan, and actor-director Sohail Khan, and daughter Alvira Khan. He married Helen in the 1980s and adopted Arpita Khan. Go to Source
