I'm not married because of sooraj, says Salman Khan

Salman Khan was in a rather jovial mood, as he regaled the media fraternity with moments from his childhood at an event in the city. The Kick actor recounted an incident involving his father Salim Khan and his unnamed friend once.

Salman’s father, Salim Khan had a humble beginning. He recalls, “My father came to Mumbai with just Rs 16 in his pocket. It is because of him that we learnt to give. Once, his friend came home for a few drinks and food. My father was earning around Rs 750 a month and the food at home was exhausted. So my mother went to the next door neighbour — who we were very close to — for some food. The friend was still hungry. My mother (Salma Khan) told my father that there is nothing left. Sohail was just born; I was around five years then. My father went to the went to the bedroom and picked up Sohail and put him on the table and told his friend, ‘bas ab yahi bacha hai, isko khaalo,’ (It’s just Sohail that’s on the menu now. Eat him.) Thank god he didn’t eat Sohail,” chuckles Salman.

He credits his folks for imbibing this habit of giving. “My parents have been doing this regularly and without letting people now. We just gave it a name, Being Human Foundation —we got just more organised now. There are people who come to us for their daughter’s wedding asking for Rs 2.5 lakh — we don’t give them. My father’s marriage happened in Rs 180. We are born out of Rs 180 and it has successfully managed to bring up five (Salman, Arbaaz, Sohail, Alvira and Arpita of us,” he laughs again.

The country’s most eligible bachelor further blames his old friend Sooraj Barjatya for his relationship status. “This is again Sooraj Barjatya’s fault, because Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Saath Saath Hain have such big weddings. There are such lavish marriages for lakhs and lakhs and crores of rupees that I can’t afford it. That is the reason why I am not getting married,” guffaws the actor, who aced Forbes’ list of Top 100 Indian Celebrities with '232.83 crore as his annual earning last year.

—Sanskriti Media