“I consider myself the luckiest woman in the world” – Saira Banu

By Subhash K. Jha -

December 14, 2015 - 10:03 AM IST

The Home Minister Sri Rajnath Singh and the chief minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis put together a very special birthday gift for India's greatest actor.

On Sunday they visited Dilip Kumar's home to confer the Padma Vibhushan personally on him.

Confirming this Dilip Saab's beautiful and gracious wife Saira Banu said, "Yusuf Saab couldn't attend the National awards in Delhi in April because of his health. The Home Minister Rajnathji and the chief minister Devendraji have kindly decided to come home with the honour. What a beautiful gesture. And a truly spectacular birthday surprise for my husband."

The mighty Dilip Kumar had a very subdued 93rd birthday on December 11...or, so his lovely and devoted wife Saira Banu had thought.

Alas, Wife proposes, Devotee Disposes. Swarms of fans admirers and colleagues trooped in to their Pali Hill bungalow the whole day to wish the Legend in person.

"It is their love for Yusuf Saab...They couldn't help it. They had come to pay their respects. Yes, we had planned a very subdued birthday for Saab because of the floods in Chennai. Chennai is a city to which Saab and I are very attached. It is like a second home to us after Mumbai."

Recalling her time spent in Chennai during the days when the couple had hectic shooting schedules Saira says, "Because Yusuf Saab was doing a lot of Chennai-produced Hindi films after Kohinoor we shifted base to Chennai and moved into a home owned by a friend. I had decided not to work after marriage. But then I got good offers like Padosan and Shagird. And Yusuf Saab encouraged me to take up these offers. We shot on two studio floors separated only by a small gate. So you see Chennai holds wonderful memories for us both. The people in both Chennai and Mumbai are equally cultured and well-informed. To see Chennai devastated this way is deeply saddening to both of us."

Commend her on nearly 50 years of looking after her husband and Saira Banu shoots back, "What are you saying? It has been entirely my privilege and honour. Main toh unke paon ki dhool bhi nahi (I am not even the dust on his feet). He could have married anyone, any woman he wanted. He chose me. I consider myself very very fortunate. I always call him the Kohinoor of the film industry. I am lucky to be so close to him for so many years. I couldn't have chosen a better life. I can't imagine any other life for me."

Tell her Dilip Saab was fortunate to have such a devoted wife and she jokes, "Haan, I guess if I was chosen to be his wife I must be special. Unki biwi hone ke liye caliber honi chahiye (to be his wife one needed to be of some caliber). But seriously, all Indian wives look after their husbands. In my family I've seen women being devoted to their husbands. I grew up watching that. To me, it is a very natural thing."

Sairaji says her husband's health is holding up well these days. "There are ups and downs. But he is keeping stable health. Please pray for him."