- published: 14 Sep 2012
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Saira Banu (Hindi: साइरा बानु, Urdu: سائرہ بانو, born 23 August 1944), also known as Saira Bano, is an Indian Bollywood actress and the wife of the film actor Dilip Kumar. She acted in many Bollywood films between 1960 and 1980.
Saira Banu was born in India to actress of 30s-40s, and the granddaughter of a courtesan Chamiyan Bai, also known as Shamshad Begum of Delhi (not to be confused with the famous playback singer of yesteryear Shamshad Begum who was from Amritsar, Punjab). Her father was film Producer Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq, who produced the film Phool in Bombay and film Wadah in Pakistan. She had spent a significant part of her childhood in London, and went to a finishing school. She was an actress at her school, winning many awards and bringing laurels to her parents.Her mother's name was Naseem Banu.
Saira Banu was 16 year old in 1960 when she made her debut in Bollywood films. She said in show, that she had no talent and no dancing experience. Her peers all were classically trained, which was why she wasn't put in the top league. Saira started taking Kathak and bharatnatyam lessons. Soon she became a dancer and her films flaunted more of her dance. Banu made her acting debut at 17 years opposite Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film Junglee for which she earned her first Filmfare nomination as Best Actress. The famous song from this movie "Yaahoo!! Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe" sung by Mohammed Rafi was a big success. "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. Junglee also instantly made her a successful actress throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. But it is said that the turning point of her career was the comedy and love story Padosan, which brought her to be one of the successful actresses.
Bano Naseeb (Urdu:بانو نسیب) is the protagonist and main character of Razia Butt's novel Bano (novel), and of Hum TV drama Dastaan. She is from the province of Ludhiana. Bano was engaged to neighbor and family friend Hassan, but the two were never married due to partition-induced circumstances. Her main goal throughout the novel and drama was first to have Pakistan created, and later on, to reach Pakistan and see it in ethereal glory.
Bano is a girl from Ludhiana, India, and the youngest of 3 siblings. Bano is shown at the beginning of the show as a typical 1940's girl, shy and obedient. But as the show progresses, we find out that she is also very loving and passionate about something she believes in.
Bano is first introduced as the sister of Saleem, who is about to get married to neighbor and family friend Suraiya. Bano and Suraiya have been best friends since they were young, and Bano is overjoyed to have her as a sister-in-law. While at Suraiya's house, just a day before the wedding, Bano meets Hassan, Suraiya's nephew who is just a year or two younger than Suraiya. Her first impression of him is not a good one; he has a humorous, teasing nature which she at first does not appreciate, and his calling her a "billi(kitten)" after seeing her on all fours while hiding from her mother does not help.