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If you are a Bollywood enthusiast, there is no way you are unaware of the evergreen Love Story of
Dilip Kumar and
Saira Banu. This is a love story that gives hope that everything is possible if you try hard enough. A love story that bloomed even with the age gap of 22 years. A lovely tale of Bollywood's big names that stuck together in health and sickness! If you are by any chance under the rock about the undying tale of true love, don't worry, we got you covered!
Saira Banu was very young when she became smitten by Dilip Kumar to the extent that once in an interview she disclosed that she fell for Dilip Kumar when she was just 12 years old. At such young age when children don't even understand the concept of love, she started to see him as her prince charming. At the time, the actor was 34 years old.
Where many fans don't even get the chance of meeting their idols, she not only met him but also got married to him and led a long healthy relationship. It was no less than a fairytale for her. She also once stated that "For Dilip, she was just another girl, but for her, Dilip was everything and that she had a belief in God and her love too."
Relationships of Dilip Kumar Before Banu
Dilip Kumar was undoubtedly the heartthrob of many actresses. From Kamini Kaushal to Madhubala, here is the love life of this handsome legend!
Kamini Kaushal
Kamini Kaushal and Dilip Kumar worked together in various films including Shaheed, Nadiya Ke Paar, Shabnam, and Arzoo. Their onscreen chemistry was unmistakable. It was said that while she was spontaneous, Dilip's seriousness left her impressed. Soon enough, the two were drawn towards each other.
While working together they fell for each other and intended to get married. However, luck wasn't on their side. Kamini's brother, who was in the Indian army, was against this relationship. Dilip and Kamini's marriage would have also disturbed the family's convenient arrangement where Kamini was married to her late sister's husband to be able to nurture their child, after the death of her sister Usha in an accident. The love story remained incomplete.
The book "Dilip Kumar: Peerless Icon Inspiring Generations" calls Kamini Kaushal, Dilip's 'first flame and also his first serious heartbreak'. In the book, "Dilip Kumar – Star Legend of Indian Cinema" Dilip's point of view about the actress has been mentioned, "She (Kamini) was the only one with whom I achieved total identification. I think everybody falls in love only once. 'Again' - if there is an 'again' - is merely an imitation of the brilliant flame, the blinding light, the days of trance, the nights of impatience and waiting, and days of such happiness that one cannot believe they will last."
Madhubala
Kumar and Madhubala were drawn to each other during the shooting of Tarana (1951). The actress was madly in love with Dilip Kumar and the duo even got engaged. They remained in a relationship for seven years. Due to a problem between Dilip and Madubala's father, their relationship came to an end. Madubala's father wanted Dilip to act in his production house's films, which the actor refused. The actress didn't want to disobey her father.
According to sources, Dilip specified that if they were to marry, she will have to sever all ties with her family. All this trouble created an unending tiff between the duo. She parted ways with him in 1957 amidst the court case over the production of Naya Daur (1957). During the case, Kumar testified against Madhubala and her father, ending their relationship fully. They never worked together again after Mughal-e-Azam (1960).
In his autobiography, Kumar stated, "Was I in love with Madhubala as the newspapers and magazines reported at that time? As an answer to this oft-repeated question straight from the horse's mouth, I must admit that I was attracted to her both as a fine co-star and as a person who had some of the attributes I hoped to find in a woman at that age and time...She, as I said earlier, was very sprightly and vivacious and, as such, she could draw me out of my shyness and reticence effortlessly."
Vyjayanthimala
In the late 1950s, Vyjayanthimala was linked by gossip magazines to Kumar, who acted with her the most compared to any other actress, which resulted in great on-screen chemistry between them. This Jodi created history in Hindi cinema with their burning chemistry in 6 movies together. Naturally, the sets were filled with rumors of their relationship but both of them continued to be in denial.
Despite their constant denial, there was this buzz that Vyjayanthimala was crushing on her handsome co-star Dilip and they were indeed in a relationship. It was also said that this was Dilip Kumar's third love saga after the ones with Kamini and Madhubala.
Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar First Meet
The actress saw him for the first time in person at Mumbai's Mehboob Studios. She stated in an interview, "he was wearing a plain white shirt, white trousers, and white chappals. And my God! He had such lovely free-flowing hair, just in sync with his song 'Ude Zulfen Jab Jab Teri' from 'Naya Daur'. He looked so polished and sophisticated and so different from everyone around. It was a party by Mehboob Khan (director of 'Mother India') and I met him. I fell in love with him almost instantly; I was just 12 then. Even if he was leaning on a chair or standing against a wall, you could easily make out that this is a man of different fiber and of superior material." She instantly fell for him.
In 1960, during the premiere of Mughal-e-Azam, the actress wanted to have one glimpse of her childhood crush, at the time she was 16. She was heartbroken to find out that Kumar will not be attending the premiere. Banu didn't lose hope and finally got to meet the actor in person a little later. She calls the meeting a magical one, which she will never forget. In an interview, she recalled the moment and said, "When he smiled at me and remarked that I was a pretty girl, I could feel my whole being taking wing and flying rapturously. I knew somewhere deep within me that I was going to be his wife."
Saira Banu's Relationship with Rajendra Kumar
Around the same time, Banu set foot in the entertainment industry. She made her debut a year later opposite Shammi Kapoor with the film Junglee (1961). Soon she became an admired actress and gained a huge fan following. Like any famous actress, Banu had many rumors about link-ups. Her and Rajendra Kumar's connection was one of them. Rajendra Kumar has worked with Saira Banu in a number of hit films. Their onscreen chemistry received a lot of appreciation from the audience. Some of her successful films during this time include Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Aman, and Jhuk Gaya Aasman among others.
Sources suggest that they were madly in love with each other, despite Kumar being married with two children. According to references, the two loved each other so much that Rajendra was ready to leave his entire family for her. Banu's mother Naseem was calamitous about this. She tried to reason with Banu, but the actress, smitten by the love bug, did not pay heed.
Nassem sought help from her neighbor, Dilip Kumar, on the issue and requested him to talk to Saira to get away from Rajendra. Kumar perfunctory tried to persuade Saira as he wasn't entirely acquainted with her. He's trying to sway her on the issue worked and the interaction soon turned into a beautiful relationship.
Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar Marriage
The Devdas actor stayed away from the relationships for a while after his failed affair with Madhubala. Saira again came into his life as his would-be co-star, however, Kumar refused to work with her citing she was too young to be cast opposite him. It was for the film Ram Aur Shyam. Banu once stated in an interview, "Not just that, he even felt that I was not heroine material". He tried to stay away but, destiny had something else in store.
Kumar was close friends with Banu's parents and was invited to her birthday party in 1966, after which their fling started.
Naseem played a climactic role in the union of this duo. She was no less than a cupid for the two and brought them closer. They both developed feelings for each other and Dilip Kumar finally proposed to her. Saira accepted the proposal without any doubt. The two got married in the year 1966, at the time she was 22 and Kumar was 44.
While many were speculating about their separation due to their age difference, the duo stuck together while facing many hurdles in their life. Banu and he lived in Bandra, Mumbai. 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 the child's death. Following this, they did not try to have children again, believing it to be God's will. In 1976, she decided to take retirement from acting and Kumar supported her decision.
Dilip Kumar's Second Marriage
After the news of Saira not being able to give birth broke, Kumar's name was tied with many Bollywood actresses. It was reported that the actor wanted to extend his family. Dilip Kumar and socialite Asma Rahman's linkage was a catastrophe in the relationship between Saira Banu and Kumar. Reportedly, Dilip fell in love with this Hyderabadi pretty lady and got attached to her within months. Their link was a big blow to Saira Banu. Their love blossomed and Dilip got married to her taking her as a second wife in 1981. Dilip and Saira got divorced, which left Saira heartbroken. However, just after two years, there was a rift between Dilip and Asma as Dilip found out that she was cheating on him and that led to their divorce. That marriage ended in January 1983.
Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu on Kumar's Second Marriage
In his autobiography, Kumar wrote about Asma's chapter too. He wrote, "Well, the one episode in my life that I would like to forget and which we, Saira and I, have indeed pushed into eternal oblivion is a grave mistake I made under the pressure of getting involved with a lady named Asma Rehman whom I had met at a cricket match in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) where she then lived with her husband." The actor also mentioned that he became a victim of a 'situation that was set to precipitate a deep crisis in my marriage with Saira'.
Talking about Dilip Kumar leaving her for another woman, Saira Banu said in an interview, "For me, it was always Saab, no one else. I was his fan from the time I can remember. While still a teenager, I wanted to be his wife. I'm very headstrong and once I made up my mind, there was no stopping me. I knew many beautiful women wanted to marry Saab, but he chose me. It was my dream come true and that's what my marriage has been a perfect dream."
Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu Undying Love
After Kumar and Asma Rahman got apart, Saira and Dilip remarried. Saira Banu continued to love Dilip Kumar like no other. She once said in an interview, "My marriage was a dream come true for me. I had pasted his pictures in my room even before we got married. The only other person who made it to those walls was Rock Hudson." Banu never left his side despite betrayal, health issues, and whatnot. Banu and Kumar were together until he took his last breath. Kumar passed away on 7 July 2021, at Hinduja Hospital OPD Building, Mumbai after a prolonged illness.
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