Salim Khan had instructed Arbaaz Khan and his family to “pay her the same respect” even though he did not anticipate them to love Helen as much as they do Salma Khan. When asked how his relationship with Helen has changed over time in a recent interview, Arbaaz recounted how his father Salim Khan had introduced the seasoned actor to his family. Arbaaz claimed that their father had instructed them to treat Helen with “the same respect” as their mother Salma Khan. Salim informed them that he did not want them to love Helen as much as they love their mother, but to somehow understand that Helen ‘is a part of his life now’.
Salim Khan, a former actor who is now a scriptwriter, wed Helen in 1980 when she was 42 and he was 45. Sushila Charak, who is now known as Salma Khan, was his first wife, whom he had married in 1964. They have one daughter, Alvira Khan, and three sons: actor Salman Khan, actor-producer Arbaaz Khan, and actor-director Sohail Khan. Arpita Khan is the daughter of Salim and Helen.
Speaking to ETimes about his relationship with Helen Auntie, his second “mother,” Arbaaz Khan said, “We’ve been dating for a while, and Helen Aunty and I get along well. Even though Helen’s Auntie has been around for a long time, we still refer to her as such since that is how things are. But obviously, she’s our mother. We were quite young when it all started, but now she’s a big part of our lives. Hence, some of the drama that must have occurred in my parents’ life was kept out of our view.”
Arbaaz Khan:
He went on, “But very quickly, before we were grownups, we began to suspect that she was meeting our family. And my father just had one question for us. Dekho (see), I know you might be on your mother’s side, he said. You might adore your mum above all else. You probably won’t ever be able to love your mother as much as you do Helen. Yet one thing I ask of you is that you show her respect. You need to understand that she is a part of my life and treat her with the same respect. And you should understand that this is the current truth if you still have any love or respect for me.”
Arbaaz Khan spoke with Helen on his chat show, The Invincibles, last month. Helen had shared her initial impression of Salim Khan during their conversation. Admitting she had missed him while they were shooting their first movie together in the 1960s. Helen also mentioned that she had a reputation for treating the individuals she worked with “like furniture” and for not engaging with them on sets.
