Inside 78-Yr Old Salman Rushdie's Dating Life, Married Five Times, Had An Affair With Robyn Davidson

Salman Rushdie is an Indian-born British and American novelist who has gained worldwide fame for his works. In 1981, he won the Booker prize for his second novel, Midnight’s Children. However, it was his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, that brought trouble into the author’s life. For this novel, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa, ordering Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie.

In 2022, the author was attacked, and the situation turned worse as Salman lost his right eye. His liver got damaged, and one of his hands got paralysed due to this grave attack. Coming to his personal life, Salman Rushdie is married to poet and novelist, Rachel Eliza Griffiths. But do you know he had an affair with Australian writer, Davidson, when he was still married to his first wife, Clarissa Luard? Yes, you read it right. So, without further ado, let’s jump in to have a look at his dating history.

Salman Rushdie tied the knot with Clarissa Luard after 7 years of dating

Salman Rushdie crossed paths with Clarissa Luard at a concert in 1969. After almost 7 years of dating, the couple tied the knot in 1976. The duo welcomed their first child, a son, Zafar, in 1979. But their seemingly happy marriage hit a rough patch, and they parted ways in 1987, within 8 years of their marriage. In 1999, Clarissa died of cancer. Clarissa was just 50 when she passed away. According to a report by The Guardian, even though Salman and Clarissa got divorced in 1987, the two stayed in touch until the day she died.

Salman Rushdie had an affair with Robyn Davidson while he was still married to Clarissa Luard

Salman Rushdie had begun an affair with Australian writer, Robyn Davidson in 1984. At that time, The Satanic Verses author was married to Clarissa. However, his affair was short-lived, and the couple broke up that same year, when he divorced his first wife, Clarissa. In 2013, the former couple had an unexpected reunion at the Telluride Film Festival. In a 2014 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Robyn talked about this reunion. 

Robyn shared that during a photo session, the former couple had a glance. It was an awkward moment for the duo, and the author attended the event with his new girlfriend. Later, Salman and Robyn hugged at the film festival. She was quoted as saying:

"But when I went down for the photo, there were 20 people there, and we looked across the room and met each other's eyes. It was very odd. I'm always very conscious of being watched, and I'm sure he is, too, and he was with his new squeeze. He's always got this series of fabulous squeezes, ever younger and ever more beautiful. And he's such an ugly old thing! But we said hello, and had a sort of awkward hug."

Salman Rushdie married Marianne Wiggins within one year after his divorce from Clarissa Luard

The Booker prize-winning author got married to American author, Marianne Wiggins in 1988. Just a year later, their lives took a drastic turn, when Iran’s former Supreme Leader issued a death sentence against Salman over his novel, The Satanic Verses. The news broke on February 14, 1989, Valentine’s Day, as the couple was celebrating and planning a joint book tour. 

Soon after the news broke out, they had to leave their London home, and the UK government hid them for five months. Eventually, they agreed that Marianne Wiggins should try to return to a normal life, free from hiding. However, their time apart strained their marital paradise, and they got divorced in 1993.

Salman Rushdie's troubled marriage with Elizabeth West

Salman Rushdie tied the knot with Elizabeth West in 1997. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, Milan. However, their marriage hit a rough patch due to his ongoing fear of death and differing desires. Elizabeth West wanted more kids, but The Satanic Verses author didn’t. Around 1999, he met his fourth wife, Padma Lakshmi, and began an affair, which deeply affected Elizabeth. The couple got separated in 2004.

Salman Rushdie's tumultuous relationship and marriage with Padma Lakshmi

Salman Rushdie crossed paths with Padma Lakshmi in 1999, when Salman was still married to Elizabeth West. Their affair turned into an eight-year relationship, including three years of marriage. According to a report by People, the couple started living together in 2000 and got married in 2004. Later in 2007, the duo parted ways. In a 2016 interview with People, Padma talked about her failed relationship with Salman Rushdie. She was quoted as saying:

"For us Indians, he's like Hemingway. Imagine a young woman in her twenties, who loves books and who had published her little cookbook and in comes this guy. I mean, he was the best thing that ever happened to me by a mile."

Salman Rushdie found love again in Rachel Eliza Griffiths

Salman Rushdie got married to poet and novelist, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, in 2021. They met at a 2016 literary event. In a past interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Rachel shared that the Booker prize-winning author has always been respectful towards her work. After Salman Rushdie’s 2022 attack, Rachel stood by him through his recovery. She also shared her equation with her husband, Salman Rushdie. She was quoted as saying:

"It’s wonderful to have a spouse who’s excited about what you do; it infuses your own ecosystem, and your own excitement about your craft. It’s a very sacred space, when two artists can work together that way."

What are your thoughts on the dating life of the author, Salman Rushdie? Let us know.

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