Dilip Kumar, one of the greatest legends of Indian cinema, passed away on July 7, 2021. Even though he is gone, his influence on Indian films remains unmatched. He was known for pioneering method acting in Bollywood, bringing depth and realism to the screen long before it became popular.
Besides his remarkable acting skills, fans were also captivated by his real-life romance with Saira Banu.
The veteran actor initially refused to work with Saira Banu, believing she was too young for roles alongside him. However, everything changed one day when he saw her wearing a stunning brocade saree. That moment shifted his view completely.
In his autobiography, The Substance and the Shadow, Dilip Kumar wrote that she had grown into a graceful woman and that time stood still when he shook her hand. With help from Saira Banu’s mother, the couple married in 1966.
Saira Banu was 22, and Dilip Kumar was 44. Despite their age difference, their bond strengthened over the years. Their only significant sorrow came in 1972 when Saira Banu suffered a miscarriage. After that, they decided not to have children.
In 1981, while still married to Saira Banu, Dilip Kumar wed Asma Rehman, whom he met at a cricket match in Hyderabad. Their relationship lasted only two years, ending in 1983. In his autobiography, Dilip Kumar admitted that this second marriage was a mistake, calling it a chapter he and Saira Banu wanted to forget.
He wrote, "Well, the one episode in my life that I would like to forget and which we, Saira and I, have pushed into eternal oblivion is a grave mistake I made under pressure of getting involved with a lady named Asma Rehman whom I had met at a cricket match in Hyderabad."
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Saira Banu, always devoted, chose to leave her acting career in 1976 to focus on being a full-time homemaker. Speaking about her love for Dilip Kumar, she said, “For me, it was always Saab, no one else. I was his fan from the time I can remember. While still a teenager, I wanted to be his wife… It was my dream come true, and that’s what my marriage has been—a perfect dream.”
For the unversed, Dilip Kumar started his acting career in 1944 with the film Jwar Bhata. Saira Banu, his future wife, was born that same year. An accomplished actress in her own right, Saira Banu grew up admiring Dilip Kumar and became one of his biggest fans. As a teenager, she dreamed of meeting him. At the 1960 premiere of Mughal-e-Azam, 16-year-old Saira Banu hoped to see him in person. Unfortunately, he did not attend the event, leaving her wish unfulfilled for a while.
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