Saira Banu is a prominent name in the Hindi film industry. Over the course of her two-decade-long career, she starred in several films and used to be one of the highest-paid actresses during the '60s and '70s. Apart from her professional front, Saira Banu's personal life has been one of the most-discussed topics in the media. She was married to Dilip Kumar from 1966 to 2021, the year the latter passed away.
On the occasion of her 80th birthday, which is on August 23, 2024, Saira Banu reminisced about the most precious gift that her late husband, Dilip Kumar, had given to her. She shared that her beloved husband had once given her a heartfelt compliment, which had changed her life forever. While speaking to IANS, she said:
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"The most precious gift I’ve ever received? A heartfelt compliment from Dilip Kumar that changed my life forever."
In the same conversation, Saira Banu recalled those special moments and shared that Dilip Kumar had complimented her beauty. The actor had held her hands and was smitten by her looks. She reminisced that time had stood still during this moment, and little did she know that it was the beginning of their five-decade-long relationship. Saira Banu said:
"Dilip Kumar walked in, held my hand, and said, ‘My, you have grown up into a beautiful girl.’ Time stood still. Little did I know, it was the start of our beautiful love story."
Further, in the interaction, the 80-year-old revealed that birthdays used to be very special for her because of the abundant love she received from her family members. She shared how her grandmother, Shamshad Waheed Khan, and mother, Pari Chehra Naseem Banuji's support and her brother, Sultan's guidance, have shaped her into the person she is today.
Meanwhile, Saira Banu also recalled her birthday celebrations from the year 1966, the same year she got married to Dilip Kumar. She disclosed that along with celebrating her birthday, they also had a housewarming party for their new home, which was in close proximity to Dilip Kumar's. She was quoted as saying:
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"On August 23, 1966, we celebrated both my birthday and the housewarming of our new home, which we had thoughtfully chosen and built near Dilip Sahib’s house. Among many options, we picked this location to be close to him, unknowingly setting the stage for our future together."
At the end of the conversation, Saira Banu shared that amidst the love-filled wishes from her well-wishers and fans, her heart still yearned for her special someone, which is Dilip Kumar, who made every day feel like a celebration. Sharing that she was overwhelmed with love and gratitude from kind-hearted people, Saira Banu added:
"Today, as I celebrate another birthday, I’m overwhelmed with love and gratitude from kind-hearted people who have showered me with affection. Yet, amidst the joy, my heart yearns for the one person who made every day feel like a celebration – Dilip Sahib."
On August 23, 2024, Saira Banu posted excerpts from the interview to her Instagram account and shared glimpses featuring pictures of her childhood, teenage years, and adulthood. In one picture, Dilip Kumar was seen cutting a huge cake with his wife, and in another, he was seen feeding her a piece of cake.
What do you think of Saira Banu's revelation about the best gift she received from her late husband, Dilip Kumar?
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