Celeb in the Spotlight : Saira Banu

Celeb in Spotlight is back this week! This time, we highlight yesteryear's beautiful and talented actress Saira Banu.

Actor: Saira Banu (Saira Bano)

Saira Banu was born in India on 23rd August 1944 to 30's actress Naseem Banu and yesteryear film producer Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq. She completed her academics in London, excelling particularly in dramatics which earned her many accolades.

Saira Banu made her debut in the Bollywood industry at the tender age of 17 through 'Junglee' (1961) opposite Shammi Kapoor. The film became a hit with chartbusting songs like 'Yahoo! Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe' and 'Ai Ai Aa Karu Main Kya Suku Suku'. She also earned her first Filmfare nomination under the Best Actress category for the movie.

She gave our industry many hit films like Hera Pheri (1976), Victoria No. 203 (1972), Padosan (1968), Aayi Milan Ki Bela (1964) and Bluff Master (1963). She earned 3 more Filmfare nominations as Best Actress for Shagird (1967), Diwana (1968), and Sagina (1974).

She married in 1966, to well known Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar. Dilip was 44 years old at that time while Saira was 22, half of his age. There were various apprehensions about the union within people's minds but their bond has remained the strongest among any well known Bollywood couples.

Gifted with a great complexion, beautiful expressive eyes, and superior talent, she is surely one of the finest gems in our Bollywood industry!

Did you know?

• She was an accomplished Kathak artiste.
• Sagina was her first movie opposite Dilip Kumar, which was a remake of the Bengali movie Sagina Mahato.
• She was one of the first actresses of her era to wear a swimsuit onscreen.
• She is currently a television producer and has produced shows for DD National like Stree - Teri Kahaani, which has been written by her niece Shaheen Patel.