Mumbai, February 24 – Legendary screenwriter Salim Khan, in an old interview with Lehrein TV, had once strongly spoken against the stereotypes surrounding the Muslim community.
He had asserted that no Muslim should be viewed through the lens of terrorism. In the old interview, Khan emphasised that many Muslims respect Hindu culture and traditions and stand firmly against violence.
“Not every Muslim is a terrorist, not every Muslim has blown a bomb, not every Muslim hates Hindus, not every Muslim is against Hindus,” said Salim Khan. “There are some Muslims who respect the Hindu religion, who respect their sentiments. There are some Muslims who disapprove of the terrorism that is happening. They are against it, they make statements against it,” he said.
Speaking about communal harmony within his own household, Khan revealed that the tradition of celebrating Ganesh was brought into the family by his wife, Susheela Charak, who adopted the name Salma Khan after marriage. “My wife is from Maharashtra and she has been celebrating Ganesh for years,” he shared.
Khan recalled that when he first got married, he was not a known name in the industry. “My career started after the film Zanjeer, until then no one knew me. Until people said that I am a Muslim and I celebrate Ganesh,” he said, referring to the 1973 film Zanjeer, which marked a turning point in his career.
He added that as his prestige and stardom in the film industry grew, so did his sons Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan, and it was then when the family's every action came into the public eye. “After that, when I became a star, when Salman became a star, when Arbaaz came, we became a high-profile family, and everything we did became a topic of discussion. I am very grateful to Allah for all the fame he has given us,” he said.
Khan further explained that he never discouraged media coverage of their Ganesh celebrations, because he looked at it as an opportunity to make people understand the Khan family's positive approach towards the festival with all love and heart. “I don’t stop the TV people from covering because if this is happening, then this is a chance to make people understand and bring people closer,” he said.
He further remarked, “If someone brings Ganesh in front of me, will I say that my Islam says that I should only pray to this point and that point? Where is it written that you should not put a mark (Tilak)? Where is it written?”
He added, “All of my staff keeps Ganesh and celebrates it. Now when they bring the Aarti in front of me, why will I say, no, no, don’t put a Tilak on me, I am a Muslim? Where is it written that a Muslim can't apply Tilak?”