By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
इतनी थी बस खबर के
मेरे होश उड़ गए
उनसे मिली नज़र के
मेरे होश उड़ गए
When Saira Bano married Dilip Kumar she was 22- years- old & and Dilip Kumar double her age at 44.Though she was not gifted with the quality to emote like fellow actresses Nutan, & Meena Kumari yet she succeeded in carving a niche for herself by virtue of her stunning nay sizzling beauty. Interestingly, she also proved to be the best & too caring wife to ageing Dilip Kumar, which speaks volumes of her dedication, love and emotional rapport she could develop with her husband as a submissive ,loveable & caring ‘better-half’.
Daughter of former legendary actress Naseem Banu & Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq ,a strikingly stunning beauty in her own right, Saira Banu made her acting debut opposite Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film “Junglee”, for which she earned a Filmfare nomination as Best Actress. The famous song from this movie “Yaahoo- Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe” rendered by Mohammed Rafi became immensely popular. Junglee was the beginning of her career as a successful actress. She carved out image of a romantic, lively and shouting heroine. She also did “Bluff Master” opposite Shammi Kapoor, directed by Manmohan Desai. Some of her successful films include the likes of “Jhuk Gaya Aasman” , “Aayi Milan Ki Bela”( Dharmendra played a villain), with Rajendra Kumar, “April Fool”, with Biswajeet, “Aao Pyaar Karen” and “Shagird” with Joy Mukherjee. She worked opposite Dev Anand in ” Pyar Mohabbat”. She married Dilip Kumar in 1966 at the age of 22. Dilip was then 44- year- old.
“Aman” (1967), opposite Rajendra Kumar, was her first release after marriage to the thespian. She acted in three films with Manoj Kumar- “Shaadi”, “Purab Aur Paschim” and “Balidan.”. “Padosan” “Poorab Aur Paschim”, Here Pheri” ,”Zameer” , “Aadmi Aur Insaan” & “Nehle Pe Dehla” were her other notable films. Saira received three filmfare nominations for Best Actress.
