Bollywood superstar Salman Khan celebrates his 60th birthday today, on 27 December 2025. Despite being one of the industry's most successful heroes, his enduring popularity with fans contrasts with a personal life that remains a constant topic of public discussion: his decision to stay unmarried.
The Father's Insight: A Clash of Expectations
In a revealing explanation, Salman Khan's father and veteran screenwriter, Salim Khan, has shed light on the core reason behind his son's single status. According to the senior Khan, the actor's relationships often follow a pattern that leads to an inevitable conflict.
Salman typically develops feelings for his co-stars, a common occurrence in the film world where close working proximity fosters attraction. However, the conflict arises from deeply held expectations. Salim Khan stated that his son desires a wife who would be a traditional 'housewife,' dedicated to managing the home and raising children.
"Heroines enter the industry with ambitions. They want to build a strong career and become stars," Salim Khan explained. He emphasized that expecting such women to marry and then confine themselves to domestic life is unrealistic. "If you expect a film heroine to do such things, it's not possible at all. Even if they try, it is not possible," he added.
Searching for a Mother Figure
The revelation goes deeper into Salman Khan's personal expectations. Salim Khan disclosed that as his son gets more serious in a relationship, he begins to look for his mother in his girlfriend.
"He wants her to take the kids to school in the morning just like his mother used to. Making them breakfast in the morning, checking their homework in the evening… all these things that mothers typically do at home," Salim Khan elaborated. This ideal, rooted in a traditional family model, creates a significant mismatch with the lives of independent, career-driven actresses.
Reflections on Love and Past Relationships
Salman Khan himself has addressed his relationship history, albeit with his characteristic guarded humour. While linked to many actresses, he has acknowledged only three or four as truly serious, long-term commitments. These relationships allegedly ended due to commitment issues, personal conflicts, or lifestyle differences.
In a 2023 interview on Aap Ki Adalat with Rajat Sharma, Khan jokingly called himself 'unlucky in love'. When asked if he would reveal his love stories in an autobiography, he quipped he would "take them all to his grave."
He took a philosophical and self-reflective stance on his romantic life. "I'll get married when I find the right one. Actually, all the women I dated before were fine. The fault lies in me," Khan said. He explained that after several failed relationships, he concluded the problem was his own inability to make a partner happy in the way they desired.
The actor also expressed his fondness for children but highlighted a practical dilemma. He noted that a change in law prevents him from becoming a father like filmmaker Karan Johar, who had children via surrogacy while unmarried. "I love kids. But, with kids, their mothers also enter my life," he stated, humorously pointing out the inseparable link between having children and having a wife, which circles back to his central conflict.
As Salman Khan enters his seventh decade, the enigma of his personal life continues to fascinate. The insights from his father paint a picture of a man caught between a deeply ingrained desire for a traditional family life and the reality of the modern, ambitious world he inhabits. His journey underscores a timeless clash of values, playing out under the relentless spotlight of Bollywood fame.
