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Saira Banu

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Saira Banu
Saira Banu, c. 2023
Born (1944-08-23) 23 August 1944 (age 80)
Mussoorie, United Provinces, British India
(present-day Uttarakhand, India)
OccupationActress
Years active1961–1984
Known for
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1966; died 2021)​
Parents
Relatives

Saira Banu (born 23 August 1944) is an Indian actress who mainly worked in Hindi films. Regarded amongst the finest actors of Indian cinema,[1] she was among the most popular actresses of the 1960s and early 1970s. Banu received four Filmfare Awards nominations throughout her career.[2][3]

Banu made her acting debut with Junglee (1961), for which she received Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination. She received three more Best Actress nominations for Shagird (1967), Diwana (1967) and Sagina (1974). Banu went onto be part of many successful films including - Bluff Master (1963), Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Jhuk Gaya Aasman (1968), Padosan (1968), Victoria No. 203 (1972), Hera Pheri (1976) and Bairaag (1976). Her final film before retirement was Faisla (1988).

Banu married actor Dilip Kumar in 1966. The couple did not have any children. Banu also worked as a producer for the Bhojpuri film Ab To Banja Sajanwa Hamaar (2006).

Early life

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Saira Banu was born on 23 August 1944 in Mussoorie[4] to actress Naseem Banu and producer Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq.[5] She had one brother, Sultan Ahmed who was five years older than her. Banu's niece Shaheen Banu married actor Sumeet Saigal. Her grandniece Sayyeshaa, is also a film actress and is married to film actor Arya.[6]

Career

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Banu was 16 years old in 1960 when she started work for her debut in Hindi films.[7] She said in a programme that she had basic talent and little dancing experience. Her peers all were classically trained, which was why she was not put in the top league. Banu started taking Kathak and Bharata Natyam lessons, and trained herself professionally. Soon she became a dancer, and her films featured more of her dancing.

Banu made her acting debut opposite Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film Junglee, for which she earned her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.[8] 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. Her image was that of a romantic heroine and she acted in many love stories. She did one more film opposite her first hero Shammi Kapoor, Bluff Master, directed by Manmohan Desai.[9]

Banu established herself with successful films during the 1960s including Jhuk Gaya Aasman (1968) and Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), with Rajendra Kumar,[10] April Fool (1964), with Biswajit Chatterjee, Aao Pyaar Karen (1964), and Shagird (1967) with Joy Mukherjee. Banu also appeared in Pyar Mohabbat with Dev Anand (1966).[11][12]

The 1967 film Aman, opposite Rajendra Kumar, was her first release after her marriage. She acted in three films with Manoj Kumar, Shaadi, Purab Aur Paschim and Balidaan. Cult film Padosan, in 1968, opposite Sunil Dutt, catapulted her to the top league and she continued to play the heroine for several years after that.[13] Victoria No. 203 with Navin Nischol is her biggest hit. She acted in three films with her husband: Gopi, Sagina and Bairaag.[14] Only Gopi was successful at the box office. She acted in six with Dharmendra: Jwar Bhata, Aadmi Aur Insaan, Resham Ki Dori, Pocket Maar, International Crook and Chaitali out of which 5 were Superhit. [15][16] In an interview, she said that she regretted missing the chance to work with Rajesh Khanna. She quoted: "I was supposed to work with him in Chhoti 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."[17] She was paired with Vinod Khanna in hit movie Aarop and Amitabh Bachchan in super hit films Zameer and Hera Pheri. Nehle Pe Dehla with Sunil Dutt in 1976 was her last successful film. With a slew of flops and certain films on hold, she drew the curtains on her career as a heroine.[18]

She has earned three Filmfare nominations for Best Actress: Shagird (1967), Diwana (1968), and Sagina (1974). However, despite Banu's success, several critics bemoaned that she "made it on glamour and not on talent". In response to the criticism, she stated in a 1973 interview:[19]

Maybe they (critics) are right—but what matters is that I am around, whether they like it or not. Remember, the same was said for the great star Madhubala, comparing her to Marilyn Monroe, and I am happy to be in such illustrious company!

Banu appeared in a cameo opposite her husband in Duniya (1984), wherein the song "Teri Meri Zindagi" became very popular. Her delayed film Faisla was eventually released in 1988 and is officially her last film.[20]

Personal life

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Banu with husband Dilip Kumar

Banu married actor Dilip Kumar on 11 October 1966.[21][22] Banu was 22 and Kumar 44 years old at the time of marriage.[23] Banu and Kumar lived in Bandra. 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 a miscarriage. Following this, they did not try to have children again, believing it to be God's will.[24][25]

Legacy

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Banu at an event

Banu is regarded as one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema.[1] In 2022, she was placed in Outlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list.[26] Banu was placed 9th in Rediff.com's "Best Bollywood Debut Ever" list, for her film Junglee.[27] She was also placed in Times of India's "50 Beautiful Faces" list.[28] Dinesh Raheja of Rediff.com noted, "Saira Banu is a fey beauty, as delicate as filigreed lace. But the painted talons she flashed on screen were also a symbol of her tenacity and spirit."[29] India TV termed her a "terrific actress" and noted, "Three words that best describe legendary actress Saira Banu are elegance, divine and gorgeous."[30]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1961 Junglee Rajkumari
1962 Shaadi Gauri
1963 Bluffmaster Seema
1964 Ayee Milan Ki Bela Barkha
April Fool Rita Christiana
Aao Pyaar Karen Shalini
Door Ki Awaz Bela/Jyoti
1966 Saaz Aur Awaaz Geeta
Yeh Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai Princess/Sarita Double Role
Pyar Mohabbat Rita Singh
1967 Shagird Poonam
Diwana Kamini Gupta
Aman Meloda
1968 Padosan Bindu
Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan Priya Khanna
1969 Aadmi Aur Insaan Meena Khanna
1970 Gopi Seema
Purab Aur Paschim Preeti
Sagina Mahato Lalita
1971 Balidaan Sheela
1972 Victoria No. 203 Rekha
1973 Jwar Bhata Gayatri
Daaman Aur Aag Rita
1974 Resham Ki Dori Anupama
International Crook Seema
Sagina Lalita
Pocketmaar Asha Rai
Aarop Aruna
Paise Ki Gudiya Madhavi Delayed release
1975 Zameer Sunita
Saazish Sunita
Chaitali Chaitali
Aakhri Daao Reena
Mounto Meena
1976 Aarambh
Bairaag Tara
Hera Pheri Kiran Singh
Koi Jeeta Koi Haara
Nehle Peh Dehlaa Beena
1977 Mera Vachan Geeta Ki Kasam Champa
1978 Kaala Aadmi Sheetal
1980 Desh Drohi
Lahu Pukarega
1984 Duniya Sumitra Kumar Guest appearance
1988 Faisla Radha Final film/Delayed release

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Film Result Ref.
1962 Filmfare Awards Best Actress Junglee Nominated [31]
1968 Shagird Nominated [32]
1969 Diwana Nominated [33]
1975 Sagina Nominated [34]
2017 Raj Kapoor Awards Raj Kapoor Lifetime Achievement Contribution in the field of Arts Won [35]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Top heroines of Bollywood". India Today. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  2. ^ Kumar, Dilip (28 July 2014). Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow. Hay House, Inc. ISBN 978-93-81398-96-8.
  3. ^ "Nostalgia: Saira Banu". 29 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Saira Banu recalls her birthday celebrations with Dilip Kumar: We would all feast together". Indian Express. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  5. ^ Pandya, Haresh (4 September 2002). "Naseem Banu: First Female Superstar of Indian Cinema". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Saira Banu's grand niece Sayyeshaa Saigal is all set for Telugu debut with Akhil". News18. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  7. ^ Rana Siddiqui Zaman (12 August 2010). "Arts / Cinema : My First Break: Saira Banu". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Junglee (1961)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  9. ^ Mahaan, Deepak (24 November 2011). "Blast from the past: Bluff Master (1963)". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Ayee Milan Ki Bela". Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  11. ^ "Shagrid (1967)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  12. ^ Rahman, M. (29 February 1988). "Old Hindi movies make a dramatic comeback". India Today. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  13. ^ Upadhyaya, Amit (2 December 2018). "Padosan is a film that can't be made in today's Republic of Easy Offended India". The Print. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  14. ^ Suresh Kohli (27 December 2012). "Sagina (1974)". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Box office 1972". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  16. ^ Malhotra, Aps (24 September 2015). "Bairaag (1976)". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Rajesh Khanna was very shy person: Saira Banu". The Times of India. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  18. ^ Kohli, Suresh (11 October 2013). "Hera Pheri (1976)". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  19. ^ "'What Matters is That I am Around': When Saira Banu Gave Befitting Reply to Critics". News18. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Mohan Kumar plans a revenge | Duniya (1984) | Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Rishi Kapoor & Amrita Singh". YouTube. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  21. ^ Devinder Bir Kaur (7 July 2002). "Dilip Kumar saw a psychoanalyst after acting as Devdas". The Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  22. ^ "Dilip Kumar turns 84". IBN Live. 11 December 2006. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  23. ^ Bhatia, Ritu (2 September 2012). "Don't mind the (age) gap". India Today. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  24. ^ Kumar, Dilip (2014). Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow. Hay House India. ISBN 9789381398869.
  25. ^ "Dilip Kumar Death: Why does the actor not have any children?". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  26. ^ "75 Bollywood Actresses Who Ruled The Silver Screen With Grace, Beauty And Talent". Outlook India. 16 August 2022. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Best Bollywood Debutants Ever". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  28. ^ "Photos - 50 Beautiful Faces: 100 years of Indian Cinema". Times of India. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  29. ^ "Tenacious Saira Banu!". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  30. ^ "5 best performances of the legendary Saira Banu we can't forget". India TV. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  31. ^ "Filmfare Award Winners – 1962". Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  32. ^ "Filmfare Nominees and Winner [sic]". The Times Group. Retrieved 19 October 2020 – via Internet Archive.
  33. ^ "Check Out The Complete Filmfare Awards Winners List from 1953 to 2023". Filmfare. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  34. ^ "Filmfare Nominations – 1974". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  35. ^ "Saira Banu, Jackie Shroff get Raj Kapoor awards". The Indian Express. 19 April 2017.
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