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Salim Khan was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday (February 17), leaving the entire nation worried. The 90-year-old legendary screenwriter has remained
in the ICU at the Lilavati Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai, ever since. Family members, including sons Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan, daughter Alvira, and son-in-laws Atul Agnihotri and Aayush Sharma, have visited him ever since. His two wives, Salma Khan and Helen, were also spotted at the hospital. As friends and fans continued to wait for an update on his health, who was even reported to have been shifted on a ventilator late in the night, the hospital on February 18 finally broke the silence on his well-being. The authorities held a press briefing to update the nation on Salim Khan's current condition.
Hospital's press briefing for Salim Khan
According to the hospital, Salim Khan was put on ventilator as a safety move since he got admitted with high blood pressure. Today morning, a small procedure was performed. The doctor confirmed that he was fine and stable and would be taken off the ventilator soon.
Doctor Jalil Parkar from the Lilavati Hospital addressed the media. In a statement he said, "Salim khan suffered a minimal brain hemorrhage, which does not require surgery. Earlier, he was told he would be discharged, but now a decision will be made once he is comfortable. The DSA procedure performed on him is not considered surgery. He is still on a ventilator. He is in the ICU. But he is recovering."
"Digital Subtraction Angiography procedure was performed. He was admitted yesterday by his family doctor, Sandeep Chopra. His blood pressure was also high, so we kept him on a ventilator as a backup for safety. He is doing better now; recovery is slow due to his age," Parkar added.
Parker spoke to the cameras and assured, "The ventilator was a safeguard so that he does not worsen. He was not critical. We did the required investigations and a small procedure on him. The procedure is accomplished, he is fine, and stable. By tomorrow, he will be out of the ventilator."
Salim Khan's hospitalisation and doctor's initial statement
Salim Khan, father of superstar Salman Khan, was rushed to the hospital early in the morning, at around 8:30 am on February 17, sparking concern among fans and the film fraternity. He was reportedly brought to the emergency department by the family's doctor, Dr Sandeep Chopra. The hospital's initial statement confirmed that he was stable but was being kept under close observation. The statement clarified that while he was stable, he remained 'under close observation' in view of his clinical status. Owing to patient confidentiality, the family and the medical team have so far kept things under wraps regarding the actual reason for his sudden deterioration in health.
Dr Jalil Parkar, who is overseeing Salim Khan's treatment, stated that emergency care was immediately initiated before the Bollywood veteran was shifted to the intensive care unit on the first floor. A specialised team of doctors, including neurologist Dr Vinay Chavan, cardiologist Dr Ajit Menon, neurosurgeon Dr Nitin Dange, and Dr Bineet Ahluwalia, attended to him.
Salim Khan's extraordinary contribution to Indian cinema
Salim Khan is tagged as one of the most successful and influential screenwriters in Indian cinema history. Along with Javed Akhtar, who worked as a writing duo, Salim-Javed, he revolutionised Bollywood storytelling in the 1970s and 1980s, being a strong driving force in cementing Amitabh Bachchan's career as an Angry Young Man. Together, they penned several landmark films that defined an era. Some of these included Sholay, Deewaar, Zanjeer, Trishul, and Don.
In the 2024 Amazon Prime Video docu-series Angry Young Men, Salim-Javed's extraordinary journey was revisited. The show chronicled their rise and impact on Indian cinema.
