Saira Banu worked in many films even after marriage with Dilip Kumar. She used to go out for shooting early in the morning. There came a time when she became so busy that she could not even have a cup of tea with Dilip Sahab. In such a situation, he felt that enough was enough and he decided to leave the film industry.
Marriage with Dilip Kumar and goodbye to films
Saira Banu ruled the Hindi film industry in the 1960s. She married Dilip Kumar in 1966 and then retired from films in 1988. According to Saira, after Dilip Sahab’s departure, her life changed completely. According to him, “Life is now a very different environment from what it was before. Memories are everything for me now.”
Why did Saira Banu come on Instagram?
Saira Banu joined Instagram in July 2023, where she has more than 70,000 followers. He told that his close ones advised him that he should come on social media to share the best memories related to Dilip Sahab with the world. Saira said, “Dilip Sahab has so many fans that don’t even ask. Even after his departure, people keep fast for him and remember him in their prayers. What else do I want?”
Unique story of Dilip Kumar not remembering his birthday
Dilip Kumar often forgot the dates of birthdays and anniversaries. Saira Banu told, “Fans used to send a lot of flowers and bouquets on special days, which filled the house. While drinking tea, Dilip Sahab used to ask, Saira, is today a special day?”
I would always smile and tell him, “Yusuf Mian (Dilip Kumar), today is your birthday.” And when my birthday would come, I would laugh and say, “Yes Yusuf Mian, perhaps today is my birthday too.” On this he would say sorry to me and immediately sit in the car and go to the market with my niece Shaheen and buy a bouquet and a beautiful saree or pair for me.
Shammi Kapoor’s scolding and tears in Saira Banu’s eyes
Saira Banu was new during the shooting of the film ‘Junglee’ and had just come out of school. After studying in London, he decided to work in films. The first schedule of ‘Junglee’ took place in Kashmir, where a huge crowd gathered during the shooting of the song ‘Kashmir Ki Kali Hoon Main’.
Saira Banu said, “I got scared after seeing the crowd and started crying. Shammi ji thought that my confidence could be boosted by showing some strictness. So he pretended to be angry and said to me, “What is happening? If you are so shy, then go and sit at home, which made me cry more. But then I controlled myself and gave the shot.”
Difficult decision to say goodbye to films
Saira Banu worked with Manoj Kumar in the film ‘Purab Aur Paschim’. At that time, it was difficult to work in films, but after the permission of Dilip Sahab, he worked in this film. Saira said, “I used to leave for shooting in the morning and could not even find time to have tea with Dilip Sahab, so I decided not to work in films.”
Shahrukh Khan and other favorite stars
Saira Banu told that now she watches very few films. He praised Ayushmann Khurrana’s ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’. Shahrukh Khan is his favorite actor and he likes films like ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ very much.
This story of Saira Banu not only offers a glimpse of her life but also shows what kind of challenges she has faced in her career and personal life.
