The Master Storyteller of Hindi films Salim Khan is a celebrated Indian actor and screenwriter. He revolutionized the way writers were treated in the industry, particularly as one half of the iconic screenwriting duo Salim-Javed. Salim Khan was the first writer who demanded and got the same money as being paid to the star of the film.
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Salim Khan
Early Life
Salim Abdul Rashid Khan was born on November 24, 1935, in Indore into an affluent family in Indore. His father, Abdul Rashid Khan, was a DIG in the Indian Imperial Police, and his family had a history of serving in the Army. Salim Khan’s grandparents were Alakozai Pashtuns who migrated from Afghanistan to India in the mid-1800s.
Salim Khan completed his schooling at St. Raphael’s School in Indore and later pursued higher education at Holkar College, Indore. His friends encouraged him to try in films because of handsome features. He made his debut with Lekhraj Bhakri’s “Alladin Leila” with Mahipal and Sahkila. His good looks and charismatic personality caught the attention of director K. Amarnath, who offered him a role in his film “Baraat” in 1960, where he played a supporting role alongside Ajit Khan and Shakila.
Over the next few years, he appeared in several films, including Police Detective (1960), Ramu Dada (1961), Professor (1962), Kabli Khan (1963), Bachpan (1963), Darasingh: Ironman (1964), Aandhi Aur Toofan (1964), Raaka (1965), Teesri Manzil (1966), Sarhaadi Lootera (1966), Diwaana (1967), Chhaila Babu (1967), and Lahu Pukarega (1968).
Despite his good looks and acting skills, Salim struggled to make a significant impact as an actor. He realized that his true calling lay in writing and decided to shift his focus towards screenwriting. It was the time when he started assisting legendary screenwriter Abrar Alvi. He also wrote the script of Brij Sadanah’s Do Bhai (1969).
Salim Khan Meet Javed Akhtar
In the late 1960s, Salim Khan met Javed Akhtar, a fellow struggling writer, and the two decided to collaborate. This partnership marked the beginning of one of the most successful screenwriting duos in Indian cinema, known as Salim-Javed. While Salim Khan was responsible for developing the stories and characters, Javed Akhtar focused on writing the dialogues. They started their career as ghostwriters for films for survival. This writing work got them the attention of the production house of G. P. Sippy.
They met Rajesh Khanna during the making of “Andaz (1971),” directed by Ramesh Sippy. Who gave them the contract to rewrite the script of “Haathi Mere Saathi (1971). This was the start of the Salim-Javed era, as both these films went on to become blockbusters, establishing them as the force in the Hindi film industry. Together, they revolutionized Indian cinema in the 1970s and 1980s, transforming the Hindi film formula and pioneering the blockbuster format.
Salim Javed Era
Soon after the roaring success of Andaz and Haathi Mere Saathi, they came up with another blockbuster, “Seeta Aur Geeta (1972),” directed by Ramesh Sippy and starring Hema Malini in a double role.
There next was “Zanjeer (1973),” directed by Prakash Mehra; the film marked the beginning of Amitabh Bachchan’s “angry young man” persona. Zanjeer changed the way police stories were presented in Hindi films. The film’s success catapulted Bachchan to stardom and established Salim-Javed as the top screenwriters in the industry.
In 1975 they wrote Yash Chopra’s “Deewaar (1975),” an epic clash between siblings. The film is one of the most successful films of all time. The story of two brothers on opposite sides of the law started the trend of such stories. The film started the trend of underworld-related stories. The same year they wrote “Sholay (1975),” which is one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time. The film is widely celebrated as one of the most beloved classic of Indian cinema. The film’s memorable characters, dialogues, and action sequences have made it an iconic watch.
Some of their most notable works include “Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973),” a film that reintroduced the lost and found formula; the suspense thriller “Majboor (1974)“; “Trishul (1978),” a revenge saga featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, and Sanjeev Kumar in pivotal roles; “Don (1978),” directed by Chandra Barot and starring Amitabh Bachchan in a dual role; one of the finest disaster movies of Indian cinema, “Kala Pathar (1979)“; the action thriller “Shaan (1981)“; and the historical drama “Kranti (1981).”
Some of their other films are “Haath Ki Safai (1974),” “Aakhri Dao (1975),” “Premada Kanike (1976),” “Raja Nanna Raja (1976),” “Immaan Dharam (1977),” “Chacha Bhatija (1977),” “Dostana (1980),” “Shakti (1982),” “Zamana (1985),” and “Mr. India (1987).”
Legacy of Salim Javed
Salim-Javed revolutionized the industry by transforming and reinventing the blockbuster format and introducing new genres such as the masala action film. Their films often addressed socio-economic and socio-political issues of contemporary India. Themes such as urban slum poverty, political corruption, and organized crime were prevalent in their work, making their films relevant and relatable to the audience.
One of their most significant contributions was the creation of the “angry young man” character archetype, which became synonymous with Amitabh Bachchan. This character mirrored the frustrations and aspirations of the common man, making Bachchan a cultural icon and redefining heroism in Indian cinema.
The partnership of Salim-Javed lasted until 1982, after which they decided to part ways. Despite their split, both continue working in different capacities. Javed Akhtar transitioned to writing lyrics and scripts for films, becoming one of the most celebrated lyricists in Hindi films. Salim Khan continued to write scripts and mentor young writers and filmmakers.
Personal Life and Later Work
Some of his later films include Naam (1986), Angaaray (1986), Kabzaa (1988), Toofan (1989), Jurm (1990), Akayla (1991), Mast Kalandar (1991), Patthar Ke Phool (1991), Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1994), Majhdhaar (1996), Dil Tera Diwana (1996), and Falak (1988).
In recent years, Salim Khan has taken a step back from active screenwriting but remains involved in the film industry. He continues to mentor young writers and filmmakers, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with the next generation of storytellers.
In his long illustrious career, Salim Khan has received numerous awards and accolades, including six Filmfare Awards as part of Salim-Javed. In 2014, he was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, for his contributions to Indian cinema.
Salim Khan married Sushila Charak (later known as Salma Khan) in 1964, and the couple has four children: Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, and Alvira Khan Agnihotri. In 1981, Salim married actress Helen Richardson, and the couple adopted a daughter named Arpita Khan.
Salim Khan on IMDB
