Saira Banu is a well-known Hindi film actress from India. She began her career in Hindi cinema at the age of sixteen, when she was born in Mussorie, India. She made her acting debut in the film ‘Junglee,’ in which she played the lead role. Her performance was praised, and she was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She went on to star in the film ‘Shaadi,’ in which she was cast alongside Dharmendra. She rose to prominence in the following years with appearances in films such as ‘April Fool,’ ‘Yeh Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai,’ and ‘Padosan.’ She was also the third best paid actress in Hindi film at the time. Her most recent films are ‘Duniya,’ in which she co-starred with her husband, and ‘Faisla,’ a smash in which she co-starred with legendary actor Vinod Khanna. She is the wife of Dilip Kumar, a well-known Indian film actor who is widely recognized as one of the best in the industry.
Childhood and Adolescence
Saira Banu was born in Mussorie, British India, on August 23, 1944. Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq, a film producer, and Naseem Banu, a film actress, were her parents. She spent a considerable portion of her childhood in London, United Kingdom.
Career of Saira
Saira Banu made her cinematic debut at the age of sixteen in the 1961 film ‘Junglee,’ despite having very little experience and training. Subodh Mukherjee produced and directed the picture, which starred her against Shammi Kapoor, one of Hindi cinema’s most popular performers at the time. Her performance earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her work in the film.
She then performed alongside famed Indian actor Dharmendra in the Hindi film ‘Shaadi’ the following year. She was paired alongside Shammi Kapoor for the second time in 1963’s ‘Bluffmaster,’ in which she portrayed the lead role.
‘Door Ki Awaz’ (1964), ‘April Fool’ (1964), and ‘Pyar Mohabbat’ (1964) are some of the other films in which she acted in the following years (1966). For her portrayal in the Hindi film ‘Diwana,’ in which she was paired with well-known Indian actor Raj Kapoor, she was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the second time in 1967.
She made her acting debut in the comedy film ‘Padoson’ in 1968, opposite Sunil Dutt. The film was a big success and is now regarded as one of the best comedies in Hindi cinema history. She was also known for starring alongside renowned actors Ashok Kumar and Manoj Kumar in the 1970 film ‘Purab Aur Paschim.’ The film’s patriotic message became well-known.
Saira Banu has become well-known for her work in films such as “International Crook” (1973), “Resham Ki Dori” (1973), “Pocket Maar” (1974), and “Zameer” (1974). She starred as Hera Pheri in the crime film ‘Hera Pheri’ in 1976. The film was a smash hit, and one of the performers, Vinod Khanna, was nominated for a Filmfare Award. In the same year, she starred as the lead actress in the film ‘Bairaag,’ in which her husband also starred.
After taking a break for a few years, she appeared alongside her husband in the film ‘Duniya’ in 1984. Despite being one of the most popular actresses of her day, several of her films were box office disasters, prompting her to leave the industry. She starred alongside Vinod Khanna in the successful film ‘Faisla’ in 1988. Her acting career came to an end with this picture.
Major Projects of Saira
Saira Banu’s first film, ‘Junglee,’ is also one of her most notable works. Subodh Mukherjee directed and produced the film. It starred her alongside Shammi Kapoor, a well-known actress. She portrayed the daughter of a village doctor who falls in love with a young man from an affluent family named Shekhar. Banu was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance.
Another of Banu’s significant works, ‘Padosan,’ was released in November 1968. Jyoti Swaroop directed the picture, which also featured Sunil Dutt, Mehmood Ali, and Kishore Kumar. Bhola, played by Dutt, is an innocent young man who falls in love with his pretty but short-tempered neighbor Bindu. Bhola’s attempts to win her attention were the focus of the story. The film was a great hit and is widely recognized as one of the best Hindi films ever made.
Another of Banu’s notable works is the 1976 crime picture ‘Hera Pheri.’ The film was directed by Prakash Mehra and starred Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna. Ajay and Vijay, two con artists who are also best friends, star in the film. After it is discovered that Vijay’s father may have been murdered by Ajay’s long-lost father, their friendship is strained. The film was a smash hit and is now one of Hindi cinema’s most popular films.
Achievements & Awards
Saira Banu was nominated for the ‘Filmfare Award for Best Actress’ for her part in the film ‘Junglee’. She won a nomination again for her role in the film ‘Diwana’.
Personal History and Legacy
In 1966, Saira Banu married actor Dilip Kumar. Though she became pregnant with a son in 1972, she lost him due to her excessive blood pressure. Following this incident, the couple did not have any children.
Estimated Net Worth
Saira is one of the wealthiest movie actresses and one of the most well-known. Saira Banu’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.