Salim Khan is an Indian screenwriter and former actor best known for his partnership with Javed Akhtar as Salim–Javed. Their credited films include Zanjeer, Deewaar and Sholay. His career also includes independent screenwriting, and his work became the subject of the documentary series Angry Young Men.
He is also the father of actors Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan. This profile follows his own professional career, with documented film credits, awards and public family information.
Salim Khan at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Professional name | Salim Khan |
| Date of birth | 24 November 1935 |
| Birthplace | Indore, India |
| Age on 2 November 2026 | 90 |
| Work | Screenwriter; earlier acting roles |
| Writing partnership | Salim–Javed, with Javed Akhtar |
His date and place of birth are recorded in the Government of India’s 2018 announcement recognising his contribution to cinema. The age above is calculated for the stated review date.
From Indore to acting and screenwriting
In a 2012 interview with The Indian Express, Khan recalled that filmmaker K. Amarnath offered him an opportunity to enter films after meeting him in Indore. He identified Baraat (1960), in which he played a supporting role, as his break into cinema. His acting work later included parts in Professor, Teesri Manzil and Diwana.
The same interview describes his move into the Sippy Films story department and his work with Javed Akhtar. It also records that the partners’ contributions overlapped: Khan was associated with story ideas and Akhtar with dialogue, but their work was not divided into two rigid, separate jobs.
The Salim–Javed partnership
The partnership is central to Khan’s screenwriting career. Their films placed characters facing crime, injustice and moral conflict at the centre of popular Hindi cinema. In its 2025 retrospective on Sholay, the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound discussed the duo’s success with Deewaar earlier in 1975 and its importance to Amitabh Bachchan’s rise.
Their output extended beyond those two films. Prime Video’s account of the partnership also identifies Don and Yaadon Ki Baaraat among their collaborations.
Selected films and writing awards
| Film | Release year | Documented connection |
|---|---|---|
| Zanjeer | 1973 | Salim–Javed screenplay; Filmfare Best Story and Best Screenplay wins in 1974 |
| Deewaar | 1975 | Salim–Javed writing; Filmfare Best Story, Best Screenplay and Best Dialogue wins in 1976 |
| Sholay | 1975 | BFI’s catalogue credits Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar as writers; directed by Ramesh Sippy |
Filmfare’s official winners archive records the writing awards above, as well as the duo’s Best Screenplay award for Shakti in 1983. Its retrospective on award winners credits Khan and Akhtar with six shared Filmfare trophies. The BFI catalogue entry for Sholay independently documents that film’s year, director and writing credits.
Independent work and later recognition
After the partners separated in the early 1980s, Khan continued writing independently. In the 2012 interview, he identified Mahesh Bhatt’s Naam as an important solo success.
In November 2018, the Government of India announced an IFFI Special Award for his lifetime contribution to cinema. The Padma Shri is a separate matter: The Indian Express reported his decision to decline it in January 2015. The earlier 2014 date on this website was incorrect.
Angry Young Men: revisiting the partnership
The three-part documentary series Angry Young Men premiered on Prime Video in August 2024. Amazon’s announcement identifies Namrata Rao as its director and Salman Khan Films, Excel Media & Entertainment and Tiger Baby as its producers. It includes accounts from Khan and Akhtar, alongside contributions from performers and filmmakers who worked with or were influenced by them.
Salma Khan, Helen and the family
Filmfare’s November 2025 report of Khan’s 90th birthday identifies Salma Khan and Helen as his wives and dates the marriages to 1964 and 1981 respectively. His five children are Salman, Arbaaz, Sohail, Alvira and Arpita. The report includes public birthday tributes from Helen and Arpita.
Net worth and health reporting
The sources used for this biography do not establish a reliable personal net-worth figure. The earlier assumptions about royalties, production income and family wealth have been removed.
For the separately sourced medical-news chronology, see our Salim Khan health-update timeline. That article attaches dates and named sources to its reports.
Editorial review: Sources checked on 2 November 2026. Film credits, award years and family information are linked to their sources. Speculative financial claims, repeated praise and the stale hospital-status statement have been removed.
