Saira Banu, a famous Indian actress known for her beauty and acting skills, started her career in the film industry at the age of 16 with her debut film, Junglee, opposite Shammi Kapoor. Saira Banu’s acting skills were recognized by many, and after her debut in Bollywood, she was nominated for several awards. She was also one of the highest-paid actresses in Bollywood during the 1960s and 1970s. Besides her successful career in acting, Saira Banu is also known for her love story with legendary actor Dilip Kumar.
Here are some interesting facts about Saira Banu that are not widely known:
- Saira Banu completed her education in London and attended an elite school called Queen’s House.
- Saira Banu’s maternal grandmother, Shamshad Begum, was a trained classical singer, and Saira Banu had aspirations of following in her footsteps.
- In her childhood, Saira Banu was tomboyish and used to dress up like boys until the age of 12.
4. Saira Banu fell in love with Dilip Kumar when she was just 12 years old after watching his film, Aan. She finally met him at the premiere of Mughal-e-Azam when she was 16, and he complimented her beauty, which made her believe that she would be his wife someday.
5. Saira Banu started learning Urdu because Dilip Kumar spoke it fluently.
6. One of Saira Banu’s biggest regrets was not working with Rajesh Khanna in Choti Bahu due to illness.
7. Saira Banu had a crush on Rajendra Kumar while working with him in Ayee Milan Ki Bela, but her mother did not approve of the relationship, and Dilip Kumar helped her out of the situation.
8. Saira Banu loved flaunting the sarees and jewelry designed by her mother, Naseem Banu, who was a big name in Bollywood during the 1930s and 1940s.
9. Saira Banu suffered a miscarriage during her eighth month of pregnancy, which was a significant setback in her married life with Dilip Kumar. However, she did not regret not having a child and considered their marriage the most important thing in her life.
10. Saira Banu had to endure the perils of marrying a superstar, including dealing with Dilip Kumar’s ex-girlfriend, who took sleeping pills on their engagement day, and dealing with fans who would stand in front of his car and wish that it would run them over.
Despite the challenges she faced in her life, Saira Banu remained dedicated to her husband until the last days of his life, restoring our faith in true love.
