LEGENDARY actress Saira Banu followed up a fantastic debut in the hit musical Junglee (1961), with a fabulous film career filled with blockbusters.
Her charm, beauty and striking screen presence were so alluring that she married Bollywood’s biggest star at the time, Dilip Kumar, and became one half of a formidable power couple.
Born in 1944, the Hindi cinema icon celebrates her 80th birthday on August 23.
Eastern Eye marks the milestone with 20 facts about her career and personal life.
Saira Banu is the daughter of legendary actress, Naseem Banu, famed for her stunning beauty and the star of super hits, like the 1939 classic, Pukar.
Her grandmother, Chamiyan Bai, was a famous singer and, according to some historians, a much-admired courtesan.
Growing up, Banu did her schooling in London and returned to India as a 16-year-old. She was offered high-profile projects from major filmmakers, including Kamal Amrohi, Ramanand Sagar, BR Chopra and S Mukherjee.
Yash Chopra had wanted to launch her in his hard-hitting drama Dharmaputra (1961) with Shashi Kapoor. Instead, she chose to debut opposite his superstar elder brother Shammi Kapoor in Junglee (1961).
Banu was only 16 when she made her debut in the super hit musical Junglee, which became the second-highest-grossing movie of that year and earned her a Filmfare best actress nomination.
Saira Banu and Shammi Kapoor in JungleeWhen the stunt double didn’t turn up for the Junglee song, Kashmir Ki Kali, it meant Banu had to do the water-skiing shot herself, with Shammi Kapoor skilfully piloting the speedboat. She said: “I said a prayer and just went into the water. He expertly manoeuvred the boat, allowing me to complete the surfing scene without any retakes. Meanwhile, my mother, Naseemji, fainted onto a chair out of sheer fright that I might drown in the deep waters.”
Her hit film, Ayee Milan Ki Bela, became the second-highest grosser of 1964.
Banu became one of the most glamorous stars of her era. Her many striking looks were styled by her mother.
Banu first fell in love with actor Dilip Kumar as a 12-year-old after she saw him in the movie Aan (1952). When she married the Bollywood superstar on October 11, 1966, she was 22 and he was 44 years old. They remained married until his death on July 7, 2021.
Saira Banu with her husband Dilip KumarDilip Kumar revealed in his 2014 memoir that his wife had become pregnant in 1972 with their son, but lost the baby during the eighth month of her pregnancy. After that, they never had children, believing that it was god's will.
Scheduling conflicts meant Banu could not feature in super hits Guide (1965) and Jewel Thief (1967).
She shot the Janmashtami song, Kanha Kanha Aan Padi, in Shagird (1967) coincidentally on the day of the festival.
Banu initially intended to retire from acting after marriage. One of the movies that helped reverse that decision was the cult classic, Padosan (1968), which has regularly made it onto lists of the greatest comedies ever made in India.
A still from PadosanHer patriotic drama, Purab Aur Paschim, (1970) inspired the hit 2007 film Namastey London.
Dilip Kumar had repeatedly refused to act with Banu in films, including the classic comedy, Ram Aur Shyam (1967), because he thought she was too young to be paired opposite him. They finally acted together in the hit film Gopi (1970), which she said was a dream come true for her, explaining: “Gopi will always be special to me all my life.”
Banu’s super-hit heist comedy Victoria No. 203 (1972) was later remade in multiple languages, including Telugu (Andaru Dongale), Tamil (Vairam), Kannada (Giddu Dada), Bengali (Chore Chore Mastuto Bhai), and Malayalam (Samrambham). The film’s climax inspired the 1994 comedy, Andaz Apna Apna.
Saira Banu with Dilip KumarShe received Filmfare best actress nominations for Junglee (1961), Shagird (1967), Diwana (1967), and Sagina (1974), but never won.
Amitabh Bachchan was the biggest star of the 1970s. Banu starred opposite him in the blockbuster, Hera Pheri, his biggest success in 1976.
Banu’s final film release was Faisla, which was released after multiple delays in 1988.
The cinema icon is active on Instagram (@sairabanu). She regularly shares stories from her amazing life with Dilip Kumar.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.