Saira Banu (born 23 August 1944) is a former Indian actress who mainly worked in Hindi language films. She was one of the most popular actresses in her heyday in the Indian film industry in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Career

Saira Banu was the daughter of

Naseem Banu Naseem Banu (4 July 1916 – 18 June 2002) was an Indian actress. She was referred to as Naseem and known as "Beauty Queen" and the "first female superstar" of Indian Cinema. Starting her acting career in the mid-1930s she continued to act t ...

, a stage and film actress. She had one brother, Sultan Ahmed (1939-2016), who was five years older than her. Banu was 16 years old in 1960 when she started work for her debut in 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 was not put in the top league. Banu started taking

Kathak Kathak ( hi, कथक; ur, کتھک) is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It is the classical dance from of Uttar Pradesh. The origin of Kathak is traditionally attributed to the traveling bards in ancient northern Ind ...

and

Bharata Natyam Bharatanatyam () is a major form of Indian classical dance that originated in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the eight widely recognized Indian classical dance forms, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of ...

lessons with success, 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 Shammi Kapoor (born Shamsher Raj Kapoor; (pronounced �ʌmːi kʌpuːɾ 21 October 1931 – 14 August 2011) was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of two Filmfare Awards, winning in the categories of Best Actor f ...

in the 1961 film ''

Junglee Junglee may refer to: * ''Junglee'' (1961 film), an Indian film * ''Junglee'' (2009 film), a Kannada-language Indian film * ''Junglee'' (2019 film), a Hindi-language Indian film * Junglee.com, a defunct e-commerce website by Amazon.com *Junglee, a ...

'', for which she earned her first

Filmfare ''Filmfare'' is an Indian English language, English-language fortnightly magazine published by Worldwide Media. Acknowledged as one of Indian most popular entertainment magazines, it publishes pieces involving news, interviews, photos, videos, r ...

nomination as Best Actress. The famous song from this movie "Yaahoo!! Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe" sung by

Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer and musician. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and ...

was a big success. ''Junglee'' was written by

Aghajani Kashmeri Syed Wajid Hussain Rizvi (Urdu: , born 16 October 1908 – 27 March 1998), better known by his film screen name, Agha Jani Kashmiri (Urdu: ), was an Indian screenwriter, former actor and Urdu poet. He worked in Bollywood films, as a writer for a ...

(aka Kashmiri and Agha Jani), who also coached her in Urdu dialogue delivery, given his background in Urdu literature and poetry from Lucknow. ''Junglee'' was the beginning of her career as a successful actress. 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 Manmohan Desai (26 February 1937 – 1 March 1994) was an Indian film producer and director. He was one of the most successful filmmaker of the 70s and 80s. Desai is now considered one of most influential film director of Bollywood and a pionee ...

. Some of her successful films during this time include ''Jhuk Gaya Aasman'' and ''Aayi Milan Ki Bela'', with

Rajendra Kumar Rajendra Kumar Tuli (20 July 1927 – 12 July 1999) was an Indian actor who starred in Bollywood films. Starting his career in 1949, he appeared in more than 80 films in a career spanning over four decades. He was popularly known as the 'Jubil ...

, and ''April Fool'', with Biswajeet, ''Aao Pyaar Karen'' and ''Shagird with'' Joy Mukherjee''.'' Banu also did ''Pyar Mohabbat'' with Dev Anand. ''Aman (1967)'', opposite

, was her first release after her marriage. She acted in three films with Manoj Kumar, ''Shaadi'', ''Purab Aur Paschim'' and ''Balidan''. Cult film ''

Padosan ''Padosan'' () is a 1968 Indian Hindi-language musical comedy film directed by Jyoti Swaroop and produced by Mehmood, N. C. Sippy and written by Rajendra Krishan. It is a remake of the Bengali-language film ''Pasher Bari'' (1952) based on a sh ...

'', in 1968, opposite

Sunil Dutt Sunil Dutt (born Balraj Dutt; 6 June 1929 — 25 May 2005) was an Indian actor, film producer, director and politician. Dutt was one of the major stars of Hindi cinema in the late 1950s and 1960s and continued to star in many successful film ...

, catapulted her to the top league and she continued to play the heroine for several years after that. '' Victoria No. 203'' with

Navin Nischol Navin Nischol (18 March 1946 – 19 March 2011) was an Indian actor. He made his debut with the Hindi film ''Sawan Bhadon'' in 1970. In 1996 he worked in Pyar Zindagi Hai along with Rita Bhaduri and Raj Mohammed. The film was shot in Hyderabad. ...

is her biggest hit. She acted in three films with her husband: ''Gopi'', ''

Sagina ''Sagina'' (like ''Colobanthus'' called "pearlworts") is a genus of 20–30 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. These are flowering herbs native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere extending south to tropical m ...

'' and ''

Bairaag ''Bairaag'' () is a 1976 Hindi-language film. Produced by the duo Mushir-Riaz, it is directed by Asit Sen. The film stars Dilip Kumar, who received a Filmfare nomination for Best Actor for playing a triple role. ''Bairaag'' also stars Saira Ba ...

''. Only ''Gopi'' was successful at the box office. She acted in six with Dharmendra: ''Jwar Bhata'', ''

Aadmi Aur Insaan Aadmi Aur Insaan is a 1969 Hindi film produced by B. R. Chopra and directed by Yash Chopra. The film stars Dharmendra, Saira Banu, Feroz Khan, Mumtaz, Johnny Walker, Madan Puri, Ajit, Anwar, Iftekhar, Achla Sachdev, Kamini Kaushal and Nazi ...

'', ''

Resham Ki Dori ''Resham Ki Dori'' () is a 1974 Bollywood film starring Dharmendra and Saira Banu. Plot & Reviews Ajit and Rajjo become orphans. Ajit, as the older brother takes care of his younger sister, at great personal sacrifice. When he tries to save ...

'', ''Pocket Maar'', ''

International Crook ''International Crook '' (titled as 'Kala Bazaar' in Hindi) is a 1974 Bollywood film starring Dharmendra, Feroz Khan and Saira Banu. Plot Superintendent of Police, Rajesh, is asked to take charge of a police station in Goa, and manage it. ...

'' and '' Chaitali'' out of which 5 were Superhit. In an interview, she quoted that she regretted missing the chance of working with

Rajesh Khanna Rajesh Khanna () (; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. He is called as the "First Superstar of Hindi cinema", he consecutively starred in a record ...

. 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 was paired with

Vinod Khanna Vinod Khanna (6 October 1946 – 27 April 2017) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who is best known for his work in Hindi films; while also being a notable spiritual seeker. In Bollywood, he was the recipient of two Filmfare awa ...

in hit movie ''Aarop'' and

Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...

in super hit films '' Zameer'' and '' Hera Pheri''. ''Nehle Pe Dehla'' with

in 1976 was her last successful film. With a slew of flops like ''Daaman Aur Aag'', ''Mounto'' and ''Koi Jeeta Koi Haara'', and films such as ''Faisla'', ''Mera Vachan Geeta Ki Kasam'' and ''Aarambh'' on hold, she drew the curtains on her career as a heroine. She has earned three ''

'' nominations for Best Actress: ''Shagird'' (1967), '' Diwana'' (1968), and ''

'' (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: Banu appeared in a cameo opposite her husband in '' Duniya'' (1984), wherein the song "Teri meri zindagi" became very popular. Her delayed film ''

Faisla ''Faisla'' is a 1988 Hindi hit film starring Ashok Kumar, Vinod Khanna, Vinod Mehra, Saira Banu, Ranjeet, Sujit Kumar, Bindu & Mehmood. The film was directed by S. Ramanathan. Plot Three convicts escape from prison to avenge the rape and ...

'' was eventually released in 1988 and is officially her last film.

Personal life

Saira Banu married actor

Dilip Kumar Mohammed Yusuf Khan (; 11 December 1922 – 7 July 2021), better known by his stage name Dilip Kumar, was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi cinema. Credited with pioneering method acting in cinema, he dominated the Indian movie scene from lat ...

on 11 October 1966. Banu was 22 and Kumar 44 years old at the time of marriage.

Filmography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Banu, Saira Actresses in Hindi cinema 20th-century Indian Muslims 1944 births Indian film actresses Living people Actresses from Mumbai 20th-century Indian actresses People from Mussoorie Actresses from Uttarakhand