When Dilip Kumar refused to cast his wife Saira Banu in a film because she lacked "sexual appeal"

Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu shared screen space in films such as Duniya, Bairaag, Gopi, and Sagina.

Dilip Kumar, revered as one of the greatest actors in Indian cinema, left an indelible mark through his powerful performances and pioneering approach to method acting. Born Muhammad Yusuf Khan, he began his illustrious journey in films with Jwar Bhata in 1944 and quickly rose to iconic status. Beyond his stellar career, his personal life was equally celebrated, especially his enduring bond with actress Saira Banu, whom he married.

Despite their deep love, there was an interesting chapter in their professional lives that stood out. At the age of 22, Saira Banu tied the knot with 44-year-old Dilip Kumar on October 11, 1966 — a union that defied the odds and age gap of 22 years. However, during the making of Ram Aur Shyam, in which Dilip Kumar played a double role, he turned down the idea of casting Saira Banu opposite him due to her lack of 'seductive appeal'.

In his autobiography, The Substance and The Shadow, Dilip Kumar recounted how, although Waheeda Rehman had already been finalized, the team was still looking for a female lead for the second role — yet he was firm on his decision not to have Saira in the film.

The producer of the film was keep on casting Saira Banu, but Dilip Kumar was against the idea, thinking that Saira lacked a seductive appeal and was too delicate. Penning the same in his memoir he mentioned, “Nagi Reddy was all admiration for Saira and her recent performances and was certain that her pairing with me in the comedy situations would be a huge draw since she possessed a wonderful flair for spirited comedy. Since it was my practice to take an active interest in the making of my film, I voiced my opinion that I did not agree with Nagi Reddy on this issue because I felt she was too delicate and innocent in appearance for a character that had to have loads of seductive appeal and a bold, buxom appearance.”

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Upon knowing that Dilip Kumar refused to cast her, Saira Banu got offended. Dilip Kumar shared that his decision to not work with Saira Banu in Ram Aur Shyam ended up upsetting her deeply. He described it as the final straw, adding that Saira expressed her disappointment in more ways than one, making it clear that she was quite hurt by his refusal.

Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu shared screen space in films such as Duniya, Bairaag, Gopi, and Sagina. Their bond extended far beyond the silver screen, as the couple enjoyed a strong and loving marriage that lasted nearly 55 years. Dilip Kumar passed away in 2021 at the age of 98, leaving behind an enduring legacy in Indian cinema.