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Saira Banu, the timeless Bollywood actress, recently turned nostalgic as she reflected on her dream wedding with the legendary Dilip Kumar. From her hospital bed, she fondly reminisced about the beautiful yet chaotic day 58 years ago that forever changed her life. In a heartfelt account, Saira Banu shared touching memories of the love, laughter, and unforgettable moments that defined their special day, bringing her late husband’s presence alive even in his physical absence.
In an instagram post she shared, “‘Do Sitaron Ka Zameen Par Hai Milan Aaj Ki Raat,’ played on the radio all night on the 11th of October, our wedding anniversary…a day I wish had never ended. If someone had told me, ‘O Saira, you’ve got wings for real, you can fly,’ I would have believed them without hesitation. That’s how surreal that day felt, 58 autumns ago.
Our wedding, as beautiful as it was, was wonderfully chaotic. It wasn’t extravagant. My wedding lehenga was stitched at a local Darzi shop, and we didn’t even have time to print invitations since everything happened so quickly. And, thank goodness for that! Had we had more time, my mother, Pari Chehra Naseem Banu, would have left no stone unturned. It would have been a parade of designers, jewellers, and whatnot. The Nikaah was originally set for November, but due to certain circumstances, we had to hurry. Dilip Sahib called my mother from Calcutta and said, ‘Aap Ek Maulwi Ko Bulwaiye aur Nikaah Padhwa Dijiye!’ Despite the rush, the day was filled with humorous little moments.
Dilip Sahib and I lived very close to one another. When the Baraat arrived at my bungalow, his Ghodi began descending a slope, causing the umbrella on it to keep brushing against Sahib’s Sehra. As we proceeded with the rituals, hordes of fans, having heard that their beloved actor was getting married, invited themselves into my home! There were so many people that it took me, the bride, two hours to descend from the upper floor just to perform the Nikaah rituals! And, believe it or not, we even ran short of food—imagine, the wedding of one of the greatest actors faced a shortage of food! The uninvited fans downstairs were collecting wedding souvenirs, grabbing whatever they could find: a spoon, a fork. It was hilarious! Yet, I was truly on cloud nine.
Today marks three years since I last experienced his physical presence. At times, it’s frightening, but his essence continues to be felt. Recently, when I was severely unwell and admitted to the hospital, I found myself in the same room, on the same bed, where Sahib spent days and nights recovering from his illness. His resilience during that time gave me the strength to heal and return home. Even in his absence, he continues to give me strength. But I suppose that’s what marriage truly is—‘FOREVER AND BEYOND.’”
In an instagram post she shared, “‘Do Sitaron Ka Zameen Par Hai Milan Aaj Ki Raat,’ played on the radio all night on the 11th of October, our wedding anniversary…a day I wish had never ended. If someone had told me, ‘O Saira, you’ve got wings for real, you can fly,’ I would have believed them without hesitation. That’s how surreal that day felt, 58 autumns ago.
Our wedding, as beautiful as it was, was wonderfully chaotic. It wasn’t extravagant. My wedding lehenga was stitched at a local Darzi shop, and we didn’t even have time to print invitations since everything happened so quickly. And, thank goodness for that! Had we had more time, my mother, Pari Chehra Naseem Banu, would have left no stone unturned. It would have been a parade of designers, jewellers, and whatnot. The Nikaah was originally set for November, but due to certain circumstances, we had to hurry. Dilip Sahib called my mother from Calcutta and said, ‘Aap Ek Maulwi Ko Bulwaiye aur Nikaah Padhwa Dijiye!’ Despite the rush, the day was filled with humorous little moments.
Dilip Sahib and I lived very close to one another. When the Baraat arrived at my bungalow, his Ghodi began descending a slope, causing the umbrella on it to keep brushing against Sahib’s Sehra. As we proceeded with the rituals, hordes of fans, having heard that their beloved actor was getting married, invited themselves into my home! There were so many people that it took me, the bride, two hours to descend from the upper floor just to perform the Nikaah rituals! And, believe it or not, we even ran short of food—imagine, the wedding of one of the greatest actors faced a shortage of food! The uninvited fans downstairs were collecting wedding souvenirs, grabbing whatever they could find: a spoon, a fork. It was hilarious! Yet, I was truly on cloud nine.
Today marks three years since I last experienced his physical presence. At times, it’s frightening, but his essence continues to be felt. Recently, when I was severely unwell and admitted to the hospital, I found myself in the same room, on the same bed, where Sahib spent days and nights recovering from his illness. His resilience during that time gave me the strength to heal and return home. Even in his absence, he continues to give me strength. But I suppose that’s what marriage truly is—‘FOREVER AND BEYOND.’”
