Saira Banu

Saira Banu was born on 23 August 1944 in Mussoorie.[4] She is the daughter of actress Naseem Banu and producer Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq.[5] She had one brother, Sultan Ahmed who was five years older than her. Banu's niece Shaheen Banu married actor Sumeet Saigal. Her grandniece Sayyeshaa, is also an actress.[6]

Banu in Junglee (1961)

Banu was 16 years old in 1960, when she started work for her debut in Hindi films.[7] She said in a programme that she had basic talent and little dancing experience. Her peers all were classically trained, which was why she was not put in the top league. Banu started taking Kathak and Bharata Natyam lessons, and trained herself professionally. Soon she became a dancer, and her films featured more of her dancing.

Banu made her acting debut opposite Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film Junglee, for which she earned her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.[8] Junglee was written by Aghajani Kashmeri (aka Kashmiri and Agha Jani), who also coached her in Urdu dialogue delivery, given his background in Urdu literature and poetry from Lucknow. Her image was that of a romantic heroine and she acted in many love stories. She did one more film opposite her first hero Shammi Kapoor, Bluff Master, directed by Manmohan Desai.[9]

Banu established herself with successful films during the 1960s including Jhuk Gaya Aasman (1968) and Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), with Rajendra Kumar,[10] April Fool (1964), with Biswajit Chatterjee, Aao Pyaar Karen (1964), and Shagird (1967) with Joy Mukherjee. Banu also appeared in Pyar Mohabbat with Dev Anand (1966).[11][12]

The 1967 film Aman, opposite Rajendra Kumar, was her first release after her marriage. She acted in three films with Manoj Kumar, Shaadi, Purab Aur Paschim and Balidaan. Cult film Padosan, in 1968, opposite Sunil Dutt, catapulted her to the top league and she continued to play the heroine for several years after that.[13] Victoria No. 203 with Navin Nischol is her biggest hit. She acted in three films with her husband: Gopi, Sagina and Bairaag.[14] Only Gopi was successful at the box office. She acted in six with Dharmendra: Jwar Bhata, Aadmi Aur Insaan, Resham Ki Dori, Pocket Maar, International Crook and Chaitali out of which 5 were Superhit. [15][16]

In an interview, she quoted that she regretted missing the chance of working with Rajesh Khanna. She quoted: "I was supposed to work with him in Chhoti Bahu (1971), but I could not because I was ill. I shot with him for two days and found that he was very charming, humble and a shy person."[17] She was paired with Vinod Khanna in hit movie Aarop and Amitabh Bachchan in super hit films Zameer and Hera Pheri. Nehle Pe Dehla with Sunil Dutt in 1976 was her last successful film. With a slew of flops and certain films on hold, she drew the curtains on her career as a heroine.[18]

She has earned three Filmfare nominations for Best Actress: Shagird (1967), Diwana (1968), and Sagina (1974). However, despite Banu's success, several critics bemoaned that she "made it on glamour and not on talent". In response to the criticism, she stated in a 1973 interview:[19]

Maybe they (critics) are right—but what matters is that I am around, whether they like it or not. Remember, the same was said for the great star Madhubala, comparing her to Marilyn Monroe, and I am happy to be in such illustrious company!

Banu appeared in a cameo opposite her husband in Duniya (1984), wherein the song "Teri Meri Zindagi" became very popular. Her delayed film Faisla was eventually released in 1988 and is officially her last film.[20]

Banu with husband Dilip Kumar

Banu married actor Dilip Kumar on 11 October 1966.[21][22] Banu was 22 and Kumar 44 years old at the time of marriage.[23] Banu and Kumar lived in Bandra. They did not have any children. In his autobiography, Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow, he revealed that Banu had conceived in 1972, but developed complications in the pregnancy, leading to a miscarriage. Following this, they did not try to have children again, believing it to be God's will.[24][25]

Banu at an event

Banu is regarded as one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema.[1] In 2022, she was placed in Outlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list.[26] Banu was placed 9th in Rediff.com's "Best Bollywood Debut Ever" list, for her film Junglee.[27] She was also placed in Times of India's "50 Beautiful Faces" list.[28] Dinesh Raheja of Rediff.com noted, "Saira Banu is a fey beauty, as delicate as filigreed lace. But the painted talons she flashed on screen were also a symbol of her tenacity and spirit."[29] India TV termed her a "terrific actress" and noted, "Three words that best describe legendary actress Saira Banu are elegance, divine and gorgeous."[30]

• Saira Banu at IMDb

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