Salman Rushdie Wife-Girl Friends
Highlights
- Salman Rushdie has had four marriages
- He is divorced from all the wives
- Been in a relationship with a girl 40 years younger
Salman Rushdie: Eminent English-language author Salman Rushdie, who was injured in an attack during an event in New York City on Friday, is on a ventilator and is feared to lose an eye. His liver has also been damaged after the ‘knife attack’. His agent gave this information and said that ‘the news is not good’. Rushdie, 75, born in the Indian city of Mumbai and a Booker Prize winner, was about to begin his lecture when a man stepped onto the stage and punched Rushdie and attacked him with a knife. Rushdie has a neck injury. He was being introduced in the program at that time. Rushdie collapsed on stage after the attack and was seen with blood on his hands.
The people present there caught the attacker and later he was taken into custody. Rushdie was given first aid on stage. The governor of New York State said at an event aimed at preventing gun violence, “Deeply saddened to learn of the attack on iconic figure Salman Rushdie during an event. He is alive and has been airlifted to a safe place.” However, Rushdie has been in controversy for nearly three decades, not just now. Controversy started 34 years ago on one of his books, which has not stopped till date. Apart from this, he has also been in a lot of discussion about his marriages.
Controversy started with ‘The Satanic Verses’
Salman Rushdie was born in India to a Muslim family that did not follow the religion. Today he identifies as an atheist. His fourth book, ‘The Satanic Verses’, was called blasphemy by many Muslims. Those who see a character in the story as an insult to the Prophet Muhammad. After the book’s publication in 1988, there were protests against Rushdie around the world. A protest in Mumbai turned violent, leaving 12 people dead in Rushdie’s hometown of Mumbai. On February 14, 1989, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khamenei issued a fatwa against Rushdie. A $3 million bounty was set for the person who killed Rushdie.
The cleric said that Islam has been insulted by the book. In a fatwa, or religious decree, Khamenei urged “the Muslims of the world to expedite the execution of the book’s authors and publishers” so that “no one now dares to offend the sacred values of Islam.” 59 people died due to protests over the book around the world. These include the translator of the book. Rushdie had to go into hiding for nine years due to death threats.
Salman Rushdie has done four marriages
First marriage to Clarissa Lord
Salman Rushdie had his first marriage with Clarissa Lord in 1976. Clarissa Lord was a Senior Literature Officer at the Arts Council of England and also a Publicity Manager. He later worked as a literary manager in major literary projects. Clarissa and Rushdie met at a pop concert in the ’60s, after which the two were married and had a son. Rushdie and Clarissa divorced in 1987, but later remained friends. However, Clarissa died in 1999 due to cancer.
Second marriage to Marion Wiggins
Salman Rushdie had a second marriage with Marion Wiggins in 1988. Marion is a Pulitzer finalist and American author. They were married in London. Then both got divorced in 1993. When Iran issued a death fatwa against Rushdie in 1989, Rushdie along with his then-wife Wiggins had to go underground.
Third marriage to Elizabeth West
Salman Rushdie had a third marriage with Elizabeth West in 1997. Elizabeth is a book editor. She is 14 years younger than Rushdie and both have a son. Their son was born in 1997. The couple divorced in 2004 after a miscarriage.
4th marriage to Padma Lakshmi
Salman Rushdie had a fourth marriage with Padma Lakshmi in 2004. Padma Lakshmi is a model and actress. One of Rushdie’s most high-profile relationships lasted eight years with Indian-American host and Top Chef judge Lakshmi. She is 23 years younger than Rushdie. They met in 1999 at a party. At that time Rushdie lived with his third wife. With whom he got divorced in 2004. Then in the same year Rushdie married Lakshmi. They got divorced in 2007. Rushdie was 51 and Lakshmi was 28 at the time of their marriage. Lakshmi, in her memoir, has written how the physical relationship with the author was painful, she was sexually needy and did not have a sensible husband.
Which women had a relationship with
Apart from four marriages, Salman Rushdie’s name was associated with many other women.
2008, Riya Sen
Bollywood actress Riya Sen’s name was linked to Rushdie in 2008. The two met at a club and gave their numbers to each other. It was rumored that Rushdie wanted this link-up to burn ex-wife Padma Lakshmi and therefore invited Sen to visit her in New York.
2009, Amy Mullins
Salman Rushdie’s name was linked to a Paralympian player after his fourth marriage with Padma Lakshmi broke up. He soon started dating model-actress Amy Mullins.
2009, Pia Glen
Film actress Pia Glenn is 29 years younger than Salman Rushdie. Despite this, the name of both of them was connected. Glenn told the media that he found Rushdie a genius and described the relationship as an “old-fashioned romance”.
2009, Nikki Milovanovic
Same Rushdie’s name is associated with Canadian-born singer and artist Nikki Milovanovic. Who is 40 years younger than him. Both started talking to you and later came into the relationship. They were seen together in London. According to media reports, Nikki liked Rushdie’s sense of humour, while Rushdie said that he liked Nikki’s acting.
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