Salim Khan says he didn’t want first wife Salma to find out about Helen through gossip magazines; reveals how he broke news of his second marriage to kids

When asked how their kids reacted to the development, Salim Khan said the children were young so “they didn’t have much choice,” but recalled explaining to them his rationale behind it. Salim Khan said the children were probably “always on the mother’s side” but gave credit to Salma for handling the situation well.

“When I told her, she obviously didn’t shake hands with me and told me what a wonderful thing I was doing. Of course, we had problems, but for a very short time. After that, everything was accepted. I told my children at that time, when they were very young, that they won’t understand it now but when they grow up they would. I told them, ‘I have got another person in my life. I have married her. I do not expect anything from you. I don’t expect you to love her as much as you love your mother, but I want you to give her the same respect.'”

“When I look back, these things don’t function with a technique. You have to be honest about it, you have to commit. I could have gone on with Helen, she probably wouldn’t have objected to it or suffered it. But my religion had given me a sanction of marrying again and I wanted to give her a status, that’s why I married her,” he added.

Salim Khan, Salma, Helen, Salman Khan live in the same building, Galaxy apartments in Mumbai’s Bandra. Salim and Helen have one adopted daughter, Arpita, who is married to actor Aayush Sharma.