Saira Banu, the veteran actress and widow of legendary actor Dilip Kumar, shared an emotional note on Instagram to commemorate the third death anniversary of her husband, who passed away on July 7, 2021. In her heartfelt message, she revealed that Dilip Kumar suffered from severe insomnia and shared touching anecdotes from their life together.
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Saira Banu described Dilip Kumar as the greatest actor of all time, noting that despite having everything at his disposal, he struggled with severe insomnia. She recounted, “You see, Sahib (Dilip Kumar) was the greatest actor of all time. He had absolutely everything at his disposal, yet not many people know that he suffered from severe insomnia.” This condition persisted even after their marriage, although his sleep patterns improved slightly.
The actress shared a particularly endearing memory, recalling how Dilip Kumar referred to her as his "sleeping pill" and "pillow." She wrote, “Before our marriage, even after taking pills, he would remain awake until dawn. However, once we got married and became indispensable to each other, he started sleeping just in time. He even gave me a cute nickname, endearingly saying, ‘Saira, you are my sleeping pill, you are my pillow.’ To this day, I burst into laughter remembering the charm with which he would say it.”
In her note, Saira Banu also reminisced about another memorable incident involving a handwritten note from Dilip Kumar. He had a deep appreciation for music and often organized musical gatherings, or Darbars, at their home. She narrated, “There was another memorable incident when he wrote me a note. He had a deep appreciation for music and would often have a whole Darbar set up in our home, witnessing the magic created by the artists. Sahib, ever so efficiently, would often sneak away from the Darbar to get some sleep. On one such evening, despite managing to sneak away, he found himself unable to sleep without me. So, he penned a note saying, ‘Feeling sleepy, what do you suggest, Aunty? Yours 100 per cent (sic).’”
Saira Banu shared this note along with her Instagram post, offering a glimpse into the personal and loving relationship they shared.
She expressed her gratitude towards all the admirers and fans of Dilip Kumar who continue to send love and support. She mentioned that she is writing the note to express love to all his admirers and well-wishers. “I am expressing my Love by writing this note to thank all of his admirers and fans, well-wishers, dearest friends, and family who take the trouble of sending us lovely messages on occasion. It makes me happy that they all remember our important dates and pray for his well-being in the hereafter for Dilip Sahib is an inspiration for six generations of actors as also for the coming generations,” her note concluded.
Dilip Kumar, born on December 11, 1922, began his illustrious acting career with the 1944 film Jwar Bhata. Over the years, he starred in numerous classics including Jugnu, Andaz, Aan, Mughal-E-Azam, and many more, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema. His legacy continues to inspire actors across generations.
Saira Banu's heartfelt note offers a poignant glimpse into the personal struggles and enduring love of one of Bollywood's most iconic couples
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