Salim Khan

Salim Khan Biography

Salim Abdul Rashid Khan (born 24 November 1935 in Indore, then part of Indore State in British India) is an Indian screenwriter, actor and film producer. He was born into an affluent family of Pashtun descent and studied at Holkar Science College in Indore. He began working in Hindi cinema in 1959, initially as an actor, before turning to writing.

He is best known as one half of Salim–Javed, the screenwriting partnership he formed with Javed Akhtar. The pair were among the first Indian screenwriters to attain star status and are widely regarded as among the most influential writers in Hindi film history. Their scripts — Zanjeer (1973), Deewaar (1975), Sholay (1975), Trishul (1978), Don (1978), Shaan (1980) and Shakti (1982) among them — defined the “angry young man” template and made Sholay the highest-grossing Indian film of its time. The partnership ended in 1982, although their final joint credit, Mr. India, reached screens in 1987. Khan later wrote Naam (1986) on his own.

Khan won six Filmfare Awards over the course of the Salim–Javed partnership and received a Lifetime Achievement Honour at the Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards in January 2014. In 2015 he declined the Padma Shri, saying the honour did not match his contribution to Hindi cinema. He married Salma Khan (born Sushila Charak) on 18 November 1964, with whom he has four children — Salman, Arbaaz, Sohail and Alvira — and married the actress Helen in 1981; the couple later adopted a daughter, Arpita.

Basic Details

• Full Name: Salim Abdul Rashid Khan
• Profession: Screenwriter, actor, film producer
• Date of Birth: 24 November 1935
• Age: 90 years (as of July 2026)
• Birthplace: Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Education: Holkar Science College, Indore
• Years Active: 1959 – present
• Spouses: Salma Khan (Sushila Charak), married 1964; Helen, married 1981

Family

• Salman Khan — actor
• Arbaaz Khan — actor and producer
• Sohail Khan — actor and producer
• Alvira Khan Agnihotri — film producer and costume designer
• Arpita Khan Sharma — adopted daughter of Salim Khan and Helen

Career Highlights

Awards