Saira Banu

About Saira Banu

Who is it?: Actress
Birth Day: August 23, 1944
Birth Place: Mussoorie, India, Indian
Other names: Saira Banu
Occupation: Actress (film theatre)
Years active: 1961–1986
Spouse(s): Dilip Kumar (m. 1966)
Parents: Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq (father) Naseem Banu (mother)
Relatives: Nasir Khan (brother-in-law)

Saira Banu

Saira Banu was born on August 23, 1944 in Mussoorie, India, Indian, is Actress. Saira Banu is a famous Indian Hindi film actress. Born in Mussorie, India, she began her career in Hindi films when she was only sixteen. She made her debut with the film ‘Junglee’, playing the lead actress. Her performance was appreciated and won her a Filmfare nomination for Best Actress. She then starred in the film ‘Shaadi’ where she was cast opposite the well-known actor Dharmendra. Over the next few years, she became known for her roles in movies, such as ‘April Fool’, ‘Yeh Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai’ and ‘Padosan’. During this time, she was also the third highest paid actress in Hindi cinema. Her last films were ‘Duniya’, in which she appeared along with her husband, and ‘Faisla’, a hit film, in which she shared the screen with renowned actor Vinod Khanna. She is the wife of the famous Indian film actor Dilip Kumar, who is regarded as one of the finest actors of Indian cinema.
Saira Banu is a member of Film & Theater Personalities

Does Saira Banu Dead or Alive?

As per our current Database, Saira Banu is still alive (as per Wikipedia, Last update: May 10, 2020).

🎂 Saira Banu - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday

Currently, Saira Banu is 80 years, 2 months and 29 days old. Saira Banu will celebrate 81rd birthday on a Saturday 23rd of August 2025. Below we countdown to Saira Banu upcoming birthday.

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Popular As Saira Banu
Occupation Film & Theater Personalities
Age 80 years old
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Born August 23, 1944 (Mussoorie, India, Indian)
Birthday August 23
Town/City Mussoorie, India, Indian
Nationality Indian

🌙 Zodiac

Saira Banu’s zodiac sign is Virgo. According to astrologers, Virgos are always paying attention to the smallest details and their deep sense of humanity makes them one of the most careful signs of the zodiac. Their methodical approach to life ensures that nothing is left to chance, and although they are often tender, their heart might be closed for the outer world. This is a sign often misunderstood, not because they lack the ability to express, but because they won’t accept their feelings as valid, true, or even relevant when opposed to reason. The symbolism behind the name speaks well of their nature, born with a feeling they are experiencing everything for the first time.

🌙 Chinese Zodiac Signs

Saira Banu was born in the Year of the Monkey. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Monkey thrive on having fun. They’re energetic, upbeat, and good at listening but lack self-control. They like being active and stimulated and enjoy pleasing self before pleasing others. They’re heart-breakers, not good at long-term relationships, morals are weak. Compatible with Rat or Dragon.

Some Saira Banu images

Biography/Timeline

1849

Saira spent a significant part of her childhood in London, and went to finishing school. Her maternal grandmother was from Hasanpur (Uttar Pradesh). Her paternal grandfather, Muhammad Suleman, was an Architect who served as the Chief Engineer of New Delhi and was later involved in the construction of Jinnah's Mazar in Karachi. Her paternal grandmother, Khatoon Begum, was from Old Delhi's Mohalla Churiwalan, and a daughter of the "raees" and public figure, Khan Bahadur Maulvi Abdul Ahad (1849-1920). Her paternal grand-aunt Khadeeja Begum, was married to the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid in Delhi, Ahmed Bukhari.

1960

Saira Banu was 16 years old in 1960, the year she made her debut to Hindi films. She said in a programme that she had basic talent and little dancing experience. Her peers all were classically trained, which was why she wasn't put in the top league. Saira started taking Kathak and Bharata Natyam lessons with success, and trained herself professionally. Soon she became a Dancer, and her films flaunted more of her dance. Banu made her acting debut opposite Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film Junglee, for which she earned her first Filmfare nomination as Best Actress. The famous song from this movie "Yaahoo!! Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe" sung by Mohammed Rafi was a big success. 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. Junglee also instantly made her a successful Actress throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Her image was that of a romantic heroine for love stories in the 1960s, till 1967. She did one more film opposite Shammi Kapoor, named Bluff Master, directed by Manmohan Desai. Some of her successful romantic films include Jhuk Gaya Aasman and Aayi Milan Ki Bela, with Rajendra Kumar, and April Fool, with Biswajeet, and five films with actor Joy Mukherjee - Aao Pyaar Karen, Saaz Aur Awaaz, Door Ki Awaz, Yeh Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai and Shagird. She did a double role in the film Yeh Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai. After her marriage in 1966, her first film to release was Aman, opposite Rajendra Kumar, and she continued to act as the lead heroine till 1977. But it is said that the turning point of her career was the comedy and love story Padosan, in 1968, opposite Sunil Dutt, which brought her to the top league of the successful actresses, and she started receiving more offers.

1966

Saira Banu married actor Dilip Kumar in 1966. Saira Banu was the third highest paid Actress in Hindi Cinema from 1963 to 1969 and the fourth highest paid Actress from 1971 to 1976.

1971

Her films with Navin Nischol were very successful, such as Victoria No. 203 and Paise Ki Gudiya. 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 Choti 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." She did earn three additional Filmfare nominations as Best Actress for Shagird (1967), Diwana (1968), and Sagina (1974).

1974

She also did Pyar Mohabbat with Dev Anand and did three films with Manoj Kumar, namely Shaadi, Poorab Aur Paschim and Balidan. She established herself as a versatile Actress after her marriage, with her performances in Padosan, Victoria 203, Jhuk Gaya Aasman, Sagina and Chaitali - with each of them belonging to different genres. She was paired with Vinod Khanna in Aarop, wherein the song Naino mein darpan hai became a chartbuster in 1974. Her pairing with Sunil Dutt continued to be solid at the box office with films such as Nehle Pe Dehla being successful in 1976. The song "Sawan ka mahina aagaya" became very popular in 1976. However, with films such as Daaman Aur Aag, Mounto, Zameer and Koi Jeeta Koi Haara becoming disasters, and with some of her films being kept on hold for release, such as Faisla, Mera Vachan Geeta Ki Kasam and Aarambh, she decided to not sign for any more films. Hence in 1976, Saira chose to end her film career. Subsequently she weathered a storm in her marriage in 1980, when her husband married a girl named Asma, which was quickly resolved. She then appeared in a cameo opposite her husband in Duniya (1984), wherein the song "Teri meri zindagi" became very popular. Her last film; Faisla where she was cast opposite Vinod Mehra which was completed in 1976, released in 1988.

2014

Her husband Dilip Kumar revealed in his 2014 memoir "Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow" that she became pregnant in 1972 with their son, but that she developed high blood pressure in her eighth month of pregnancy and the doctors couldn't save the baby, which had been strangulated by the umbilical cord. After that, they never had children, believing that it was God's will.

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