Salim Khan

Actor · Writer

Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

November 24, 1935

Biography

Salim Abdul Rashid Khan is an Indian actor, film producer and screenwriter. He wrote the screenplays, stories and scripts for numerous Bollywood films. He is one half of the prolific screenwriting duo of Salim–Javed, along with Javed Akhtar. The duo were among the first Indian screenwriters to achieve star status in Hindi cinema and became one of the most successful Indian screenwriters of all time. While working together, Salim Khan was largely responsible for developing the stories and characters, whereas Javed Akhtar was largely responsible for developing the script. Salim-Javed revolutionized Indian cinema in the 1970s, transforming and reinventing the Bollywood formula, pioneering the Bollywood blockbuster format and pioneering genres such as the masala film and the Dacoit Western. Salim Khan was also one of the responsible person for creating the "angry young man" character archetype of Amitabh Bachchan. Their films are among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, including Sholay (1975), the highest-grossing Indian film ever at the time, as well as films such as Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Zanjeer (1973), Deewaar (1975), Trishul (1978), Kranti (1981), and the Don franchise. Sholay is also considered to be one of the greatest Indian films of all time. Salim's eldest son Salman Khan is one of the highest paid actors in Bollywood while Sohail & Arbaaz Khan are film directors with a brief catalog of supporting roles. Salim's daughter Alvira Khan Agnihotri is a film producer & costume designer.