The Indian film industry is known for its love and romance, both on-screen and off-screen. Just like Bollywood has given us some amazing romantic stories in its movies, it also has some admirable real-life love stories of people. One such love story is of actors Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar.
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When 60s actor Naseem Banu's daughter went to watch the premiere of 'Mughal-e-Azam', no one knew that it would be the start of a timeless love story in Bollywood. Saira Banu was smitten. Here are 10 things to know about Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu's love story:
1. Actor Saira Banu fell in love with Dilip Kumar at the age of 12, when he was 34. In an interview, Banu revealed that at their very first encounter, Kumar casually noticed how beautiful she was, but Banu already knew in her heart that one day, she will be his wife.
2. In the interview, Banu also said that she was not just another girl smitten by Kumar. She said that it was no castle in the air for her, as she had given her dream the strong foundation of faith.
3. The actor first fell in love with Kumar after watching his 1952 film Aan, and the couple got married in 1966 when she was 22 and Kumar was 44.
4. The person who brought the couple close was Banu's mother Naseem Banu.
5. While Kumar was shooting for Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan, he proposed to Banu while they were out on a drive in Mumbai.
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6. The couple started having a rough patch in their relationship in the 1980s when Kumar got into a controversial affair with a Pakistani lady, Asma Rehman.
7. Two years later, Kumar broke it up with Rehman and came back to Banu. Amidst this, the couple did not divorce and stayed beside each other.
8. In an interview, Kumar said that the one thing that he would like to forget is a grave mistake that he made under the pressure of getting involved with Rehman after meeting her at a cricket match in Hyderabad.
9. Banu thanks her destiny by saying she was blessed with a 'husband like Kumar' and lovingly refers to him as 'My Kohinoor'.
10. On July 7, 2021, Dilip Kumar passed away at the age of 98 from prolonged illness. The news of his passing was announced on social media by his family friend Faisal Farooqui, from Kumar's official Twitter handle. "With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return," read the tweet. The actor had been in and out of hospital for more than a month before his demise, battling critical health issues.
With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago.
We are from God and to Him we return. - Faisal Farooqui
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