HIGHLIGHTS:
- A glimpse of ‘Gopi’ Days: Saira Banu shares cherished photos with Dilip Kumar from their debut film collaboration, ‘Gopi’.
- Nostalgic Recollection: Veteran actress Saira Banu fondly remembers her initial experience working alongside Dilip Kumar in the movie.
The legendary Saira Banu, who recently joined Instagram, has been enchanting her followers with cherished old pictures and tales from the past. Saira Banu and the late Dilip Kumar have been celebrated as Bollywood’s iconic ‘IT couple’, a love story that has inspired many. Presently, the veteran actress is in the spotlight for her captivating social media updates, sharing lesser-known anecdotes about her life with Dilip Kumar. In a recent post, Saira Banu delved into her first cinematic collaboration with Dilip Kumar in the film ‘Gopi’, revealing why it was a lifelong dream come true.
Saira Banu’s Fond Memories of Her Debut Collaboration with Dilip Kumar in ‘Gopi’
On August 28, 2023, Saira Banu took to her Instagram handle to share stills from the film ‘Gopi’, along with a heartfelt note recounting her experience. She shared, “When I talk about ‘GOPI’, for me it is like a dream come true.” The actress expressed her enduring admiration for Dilip Kumar, revealing, “My adoration for Sahib began when I was a twelve-year-old girl, captivated by his presence during a special ‘AAn’ screening in London.”
Reflecting on her journey, Saira Banu also spoke about her film debut in ‘Junglee’ and her unrealized wish to work with Dilip Kumar. She recounted how, despite the success of her early films, Dilip Kumar resisted acting alongside her, explaining, “He emphatically refused each film he was offered with me, saying that ‘She is too young and I have seen her growing up’.”
The turning point came on Saira Banu’s birthday in 1966, a date etched in her memory. Dilip Kumar attended her House Warming Party and their connection deepened. She shared, “He walked across, shook hands with me, looked into my eyes, and said, ‘You have grown up into a beautiful girl’.” This marked the beginning of their beautiful journey together and eventually led to their collaboration in the film ‘Gopi’.
Saira calls Dilip Kumar the ‘Shahenshah of Acting’
Saira Banu affectionately referred to Dilip Kumar as the ‘Shahenshah of Acting’. She recounted her emotions during their first scene together, confessing to feeling immense nervousness. However, with the guidance of Rajenderji, she found her own voice and style, breaking free from the shadows of the legendary actor. Saira Banu concluded, “‘GOPI’ will always be special to me all my life.”
The duo’s love story began when Saira was merely 12 years old, an ardent fan of Dilip Kumar. Their companionship spanned 55 years of wedded bliss until Dilip Kumar’s passing on July 7, 2021. Saira Banu’s heartfelt recollection of ‘Gopi’ reminds us of the power of dreams realized and the enduring love between two iconic figures in Bollywood history.
