2 hours agoAuthor: Ashish Tiwari
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'After marrying Dilip sahab, I worked in many films. I used to go for shooting early in the morning. There came a time when I became so busy with work that I could not even have a cup of tea with Dilip sahab in the morning. In such a situation, I felt that enough was enough and I decided to leave the film industry. Now after Dilip sahab's departure, it is not possible for me to work in films without him.'
This is what veteran actress Saira Banu has to say, who is celebrating her 80th birthday today. Saira ruled the Hindi film industry in the 60s. She married Dilip Kumar in 1966 and then retired from films in 1988.
What is Saira doing now, how is her life after the death of Dilip Sahab and why did she join Instagram at the age of 78?
On the occasion of her birthday, Saira Banu answered all these questions in a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar…
Dilip sahab did not remember birthdays
Every day was like a celebration with Dilip sahab. He would often forget the date of birthday or anniversary. Fans would send a lot of flowers and bouquets on special days, which would fill the house. Then in the morning while drinking tea, he would ask me, Saira, is it a special day today?
I used to smile and say to him, Yusuf Mian (Dilip Kumar), today is your birthday. When it was my birthday, I used to say, yes Yusuf Mian, today is probably my birthday.
On hearing this, he would say sorry to me and immediately sit in the car and go to Shaheen who is my niece. He would go to the market with Shaheen and bring me a bouquet and a sari or a dress as a gift. This was an annual event.
There were parties too, but we liked to celebrate birthdays in privacy. We celebrated Dilip sahab's 89th birthday with much fanfare in which many big stars from Rajesh Khanna to Vinod Khanna had come.
I only live by memories
I am a very private person, I don't go out. Meditation gives me a lot of peace. Life is very different now than it was earlier. Even now people tell me that it is your birthday, go out, but now I don't get happiness from it. The memories I have are everything for me. Whatever life I have, it is dependent on those memories. Life has been very good. I am thankful to God. Allah has given me so much, fulfilled all my wishes.
Saira also shared the video of her marriage to Dilip Kumar in 1966 on Instagram.
Joined Instagram for Dilip Sahab
In July 2023, Saira joined Instagram, on which she has 70K followers so far. Explaining the reason for joining social media, Saira said, 'My close ones advised me that you should come on social media to share the best memories related to Dilip Sahab with the world.
You should share such stories or memories related to him which the world does not know, with the fans. I also liked this thing. Dilip sahab has so many fans that you can't even imagine. It has been three years since he passed away, yet people keep fasts for him, remember him in their prayers. What else do I need.'
When Dilip sahab saw her and said- hey you have grown so much
'Everyone knows that Dilip sahab did not want to work with me in films. He used to say that I am very young, he saw me growing up so he was not ready for me to become his heroine.
He had also refused to work with me in the film 'Ram Aur Shyam' and said that I look too young. Then in 1966, there was a housewarming party at my house. My mother Naseem Bano built a house in front of Dilip Sahab's house in Mumbai.
Rajendra Kumar, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand (from left) at Saira's housewarming party in 1966.
Saira further said, 'They say that 'I will build a house in front of your door'. My mother knew that I am a fan of Dilip sahab, so she invited Dilip sahab to the party. At that time he was shooting for Ram Aur Shyam in Chennai and when he reached the party, he saw me and said, hey, you have grown so much and then shook hands with me. I shared that photo on Instagram which is very close to my heart.'
When Shammi Kapoor scolded her, Saira started crying
When I was working in 'Junglee', I was very new, I had just graduated from school. I was studying in London and had come here for holidays. I did not want to study further nor did I feel like going to college. I told my mother that I was getting a chance to work in the film 'Junglee'.
Hearing this, my mother was heartbroken because like other parents, she too had dreams that I should study well and become a doctor or engineer, but I clearly told her that I did not want to study further. After this, she allowed me to work in films.
The first schedule of 'Junglee' took place in Kashmir. During the shooting of the song 'Kashmir Ki Kali Hoon Main' in Nishat Bagh, a huge crowd gathered. Shammi Kapoor ji was my co-star. I was not able to do a sequence properly. I got scared seeing the crowd and started crying.
Shammi ji thought that if he showed strictness, I would gain some courage and pretending to be angry, he scolded me and said, what is this, what is this? If you are so shy, go and sit at home. Hearing this, I cried a lot and then controlling myself, I tied my dupatta around my waist and gave the shot with full confidence.
Had a great bonding with Dharmendra
When asked about her best co-stars, Saira named Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan and said, Dharmendra used to call himself Dilip sahab's younger brother. He used to say that we have different mothers, but I am better than Dilip sahab's real brothers.
I used to enjoy working with him. We had a great bonding because we both are fans of Dilip sahab. Amitabh Bachchan was also a good co-star. I worked with him in two films because by then I had decided to quit films.
Worked with Manoj Kumar in 'Purab Aur Paschim'. At that time it was becoming difficult for me to work in films, so I did not want to do this film. Then I asked permission from Dilip sahab that please let me work in 'Purab Aur Paschim'. Manoj Kumar even said that if I do not work in the film, then he will not make the film at all.
I worked in the film on his request. However, after a while it was becoming very difficult for me to do so. When I used to leave for the shooting of the film in the morning, I was not even able to find time to sit with Dilip sahab and have a cup of tea. I felt that this was happening too much, so I decided not to work in films.
shahrukh is my favourite actor
I watch very few movies now. I saw Ayushmann Khurrana's 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' in which he did a wonderful job.
Shahrukh Khan is a very good actor. He is my favorite. I like Shahrukh very much in films like 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'. I have not seen his last released films 'Jawaan' and 'Pathan' yet.
When Dilip Kumar passed away in 2021, Shah Rukh Khan was seen consoling Saira Banu.
Deepika Padukone looks very nice, I saw her in 'Om Shanti Om' with Shahrukh. I saw a little glimpse of 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' in which Alia Bhatt did a great acting. Apart from this, Katrina Kaif is also a very good actress. Priyanka Chopra does amazing work.
