In a recent revelation from the documentary Angry Young Men, streaming on Prime Video, legendary screenwriter Salim Khan took a trip down memory lane, sharing intimate details of his early struggles in Mumbai and his romantic beginnings with Salma Khan, the mother of superstar Salman Khan.
Salim Khan recalled his humble beginnings when he first arrived in Mumbai, living at the Marina Guest House on Marine Drive. “I used to pay Rs 55 rent per month for half a room,” he shared. The aspiring actor-turned-writer had modest dreams. “My first ambition was to rent the entire room for Rs 110, but that wish was never fulfilled,” Salim added with a hint of nostalgia.
Leaving his comfortable life in Indore behind, Salim faced significant challenges in Mumbai. “I had no choice,” he reflected. “When I was leaving for Mumbai, my eldest brother told me this is not required, you’ll come running back. We had a comfortable lifestyle back in Indore, but I didn’t want to ask for money from home, so I struggled.”
During these early days of hardship, Salim Khan met Salma Khan, who was just 17 at the time. Salim, then 24, often saw her from his balcony as she lived nearby in the Regi House building in Mahim. “It started with us exchanging glances,” Salim recalled, “We used to meet in the evening in the nearby lanes.”
As their relationship blossomed, Salma’s family began pressuring her to choose between marrying Salim or someone of their choice. The couple eventually tied the knot in 1964 and welcomed their first child, Salman Khan, in 1965.
Salim also opened up about the financial difficulties he faced during this period. “Thodi si paiso ya job ki pareshaani toh hoti hi hai- ki kya hoga kaise hoga? (There were always concerns about money or job security— how would things work out)” Salim admitted. “Since I needed money, I accepted anything. I did cigarette ads, clothing ads, whatever came my way.”
Despite his early struggles in acting, Salim Khan realised his true calling was behind the scenes. “I could explain a character to actors like Dilip Kumar or Amitabh Bachchan, but I couldn’t perform myself. I had the art of narration and conceiving, but I lacked the art of projection,” he confessed. Eventually, Salim chose to leave acting behind, realising he wouldn’t be able to reach the top.
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