Saira Banu
Encyclopedia
Saira Banu also known as Saira Bano, is an Indian Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...

 actress and the wife of the film actor Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar , is an Indian actor and a former Member of Parliament.He lives in Pali Hill, Bandra in Mumbai, India. He is commonly known as "Tragedy King",and is described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray....

. She acted in many Bollywood films between 1960 and 1980.

Early life

Banu was born in India to actress of 30s-40s, and the granddaughter of a courtesan
Courtesan
A courtesan was originally a female courtier, which means a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful person.In feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...

 Chamiyan Bai, also known as Shamshad Begum of Delhi (not to be confused with the famous playback singer of yesteryear Shamshad Begum
Shamshad Begum
Shamshad Begum is an Indian singer who was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry.Begum was born in Amritsar, Punjab. She was a big fan of K.L. Saigal and watched Devdas 14 times...

 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
Finishing school
A finishing school is "a private school for girls that emphasises training in cultural and social activities." The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the educational experience, with classes primarily on etiquette...

. She was an actress at her school, winning many awards and bringing laurels to her parents.

Career

Saira Banu was a little 17 year old 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
Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor was an Indian film actor and director. He was a prominent lead actor in Hindi cinema from the late 1950s until the early 1970s....

 in the 1961 film Junglee
Junglee
Junglee is a 1961 Indian movie produced and directed by Subodh Mukherjee. Junglee means "Wild" or "ill mannered" in Urdu & Hindi. The music is by Shankar Jaikishan and the lyrics by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri. The film stars Shammi Kapoor, Lalita Pawar, Shashikala and Asit Sen...

for which she earned her first Filmfare
Filmfare
Filmfare is an English-language tabloid-sized magazine about Indian cinema. Published by The Times Group, India's largest media services conglomerate, in Mumbai , it highlights the doings of the Bollywood film scene...

 nomination as Best Actress. The famous song from this movie "Yaahoo!! Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe" sung by Mohammed Rafi
Mohammed Rafi
Mohammad Rafi , was an Indian playback singer whose career spanned four decades. He was awarded National Award and 6 Filmfare Awards. In 1967, he was honoured with the Padma Shri awarded by the Government of India....

 was a big success. "Junglee" was written by Aghajani Kashmeri
Aghajani Kashmeri
Syed Wajid Hussain Rizavi Syed Wajid Hussain Rizavi Syed Wajid Hussain Rizavi (Urdu: , Hindi: सैय्यद वाजिद हुसैन रिज़वी, (16 October 1908 - 27 March 1998), better known by his Bollywood film name, Aghajani Kashmeri (Urdu: , Hindi: आग़ाजानी कश्मीरी) or Kashmiri (Urdu: , Hindi: कश्मीरी), also Agha...

 (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
Padosan
Padosan is a 1968 Indian Hindi film. Directed by Jyoti Swaroop, Produced by Mehmood, N. C. Sippy, and written by Rajendra Krishan. The music is by R.D. Burman. The movie stars Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu in the lead roles. Kishore Kumar, Mukri, Raj Kishore and Keshto Mukherjee played the supporting roles...

, which brought her to be one of the successful actresses.

Her valiant attempts to establish a reputation as an actress after Gopi
Gopi
Gopi is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning 'cow-herd girl'. In Hinduism specifically the name gopi is used more commonly to refer to the group of cow herding girls famous within Vaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion to Krishna as described in the stories of Bhagavata Purana and...

, Sagina
Sagina (film)
Sagina is a 1974 Hindi movie. Produced by the Late Shri J.K. Kapur and directed by Tapan Sinha, the film stars Dilip Kumar, Saira Banu, Aparna Sen and Om Prakash. It was a remake of a Bengali version called Sagina Mahato which was released in 1970 with the same lead pair in the cast...

and Bairaag
Bairaag
Bairaag is a 1976 Bollywood film. Produced by the duo Mushir- Riaz, it is directed by Asit Sen. The film stars Dilip Kumar, who received a Filmfare nomination as Best Actor for playing a triple role, Saira Banu, Leena Chandavarkar, Ruma Guha Thakurta, Prem Chopra, Helen, Sujit Kumar, Madan Puri, ...

(all with Dilip Kumar) and films like Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Hrishikesh Mukherjee ) was a famous Indian film director known for a number of films, including Satyakam, Chupke Chupke, Anupama, Anand, Abhimaan, Guddi, Gol Maal, Aashirwad, Bawarchi, and Namak Haraam.Popularly known as Hrishi-da, he directed 42 films during his career spanning over four decades,...

's Chaitali met with limited success. She did earn three additional Filmfare
Filmfare
Filmfare is an English-language tabloid-sized magazine about Indian cinema. Published by The Times Group, India's largest media services conglomerate, in Mumbai , it highlights the doings of the Bollywood film scene...

 nominations as Best Actress for Shagird
Shagird
The soundtrack of the film contains 6 songs. The music is composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, with lyrics authored by Majrooh Sultanpuri.*Song "Dil Wil Pyar Wyar" topped the Binaca Geetmala 1968 annual list.-External links:*...

 (1967), Diwana (1968), and Sagina
Sagina (film)
Sagina is a 1974 Hindi movie. Produced by the Late Shri J.K. Kapur and directed by Tapan Sinha, the film stars Dilip Kumar, Saira Banu, Aparna Sen and Om Prakash. It was a remake of a Bengali version called Sagina Mahato which was released in 1970 with the same lead pair in the cast...

 (1974). In 1976, Saira chose to end her film career. Subsequently she weathered a storm in her marriage in 1980 which was quickly resolved. She then appeared in a cameo opposite her husband in Duniya (1984) and her last film Faisla released in 1988 which was completed in mid-70s.

Filmography

  • Faisla (1988)
  • Duniya (1984)
  • Kala Aadmi (1978)
  • Hera Pheri
    Hera Pheri (1976 film)
    Hera Pheri is a 1976 Hindi movie directed by Prakash Mehra and starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saira Banu, Vinod Khanna, Sulakshana Pandit, Shreeram Lagoo and Asrani. The film's music is by Kalyanji Anandji and the lyrics by Anjaan.This movie was 'superhit' at boxoffice.Vinod Khanna received a Filmfare...

    (1976)
  • Zameer (1975)
  • Nehle Pe Dehla
    Nehle Pe Dehla
    Nehle Pe Dehla is a 1976 Hindi film directed by Raj Khosla....

  • Chaitali (1975)
  • Pocketmaar
    Pocketmaar
    Pocket Maar is an upcoming Bollywood crime film directed and produced by Ravi Chopra.-Plot:Pocket Maar is the story of a man who is robbed while carrying money to stave off a personal crisis. The film will focus on the tragic consequences of what seems like a petty crime....

  • Sagina
    Sagina
    Sagina 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 mountain areas at high altitudes, reaching just south of the equator in Africa...

  • Bairaag
    Bairaag
    Bairaag is a 1976 Bollywood film. Produced by the duo Mushir- Riaz, it is directed by Asit Sen. The film stars Dilip Kumar, who received a Filmfare nomination as Best Actor for playing a triple role, Saira Banu, Leena Chandavarkar, Ruma Guha Thakurta, Prem Chopra, Helen, Sujit Kumar, Madan Puri, ...

  • Jwar Bhata(1974)
  • Resham Ki Dori
    Resham Ki Dori
    Resham Ki Dori is a 1974 Bollywood film starring Dharmendra. The film was rated "above average" at the box office. -Cast:* Dharmendra as Ajit Singh* Saira Banu as Anupama* Kumud Chuggani as Rajjo* Sujit Kumar as Dinesh...

    (1973)
  • International Crook
    International Crook
    International Crook is a 1974 Bollywood film starring Dharmendra & Feroz Khan who was nominated the Filmfare award for best supporting actor....

    (1973)
  • Victoria No. 203
    Victoria No. 203
    Victoria No. 203 is a 1972 Hindi film produced and directed by Brij. The film stars Navin Nischol, Saira Banu , Ranjeet, Anwar Hussain, Helen and in an inspired bit of casting -Ashok Kumar and Pran- who play key supporting roles in the film and who earned the only Filmfare nominations for the...

    (1972)
  • Saazish
    Saazish
    Saazish is a 1975 Bollywood action film directed by Kalidas. The film stars .-Cast:*David as Captain Thompson*Saira Banu as Sunita*Dharmendra as Jaideep*Brahm Bhardwaj as Jaideep's boss*Helen as Lola, Singer/Dancer on ship...

    (1975)
  • Purab Aur Paschim
    Purab Aur Paschim
    Purab Aur Paschim is a 1970 Indian film. The movie was Produced and directed by Manoj Kumar, it stars Manoj Kumar, Saira Banu, Ashok Kumar, Pran and Prem Chopra in the lead roles. The music is by Kalyanji Anandji...

    (1971)
  • Gopi
    Gopi
    Gopi is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning 'cow-herd girl'. In Hinduism specifically the name gopi is used more commonly to refer to the group of cow herding girls famous within Vaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion to Krishna as described in the stories of Bhagavata Purana and...

    (1970) with Dilip Kumar
  • Aadmi Aur Insaan
    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, Feroze Khan, Mumtaz, Johnny Walker, Ajit, Anwar, Iftekar, Kamini Kaushal and Nazima...

    (1969)
  • Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan (1968)
  • Padosan
    Padosan
    Padosan is a 1968 Indian Hindi film. Directed by Jyoti Swaroop, Produced by Mehmood, N. C. Sippy, and written by Rajendra Krishan. The music is by R.D. Burman. The movie stars Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu in the lead roles. Kishore Kumar, Mukri, Raj Kishore and Keshto Mukherjee played the supporting roles...

    (1968)
  • Aman
    Aman
    -External links:*...

    (1967)
  • Diwana (1967)
  • Shagird
    Shagird
    The soundtrack of the film contains 6 songs. The music is composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, with lyrics authored by Majrooh Sultanpuri.*Song "Dil Wil Pyar Wyar" topped the Binaca Geetmala 1968 annual list.-External links:*...

    (1967)
  • Pyar Mohabbat (1966)
  • Yeh Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai (1966)
  • Saaz aur awaaz (1966)
  • April Fool (1964) ... Madhu/Rita Christina
  • Ayee Milan Ki Bela
    Ayee Milan Ki Bela
    Ayee Milan Ki Bela is a 1964 Indian Hindi film directed by Mohan Kumar. The film was produced by J. Om. Prakash. The music is by Shankar Jaikishan. The movie has three stars: Rajendra Kumar, Saira Banu, Shashikala, and Dharmendra . The film became a "super hit" at the box office.-Plot:Shyam works...

    (1964) ... Barkha Choudhry
  • Door Ki Awaaz (1964)
  • Bluff Master
    Bluff Master (film)
    Bluff Master is a Bollywood movie released in 1963, starring Shammi Kapoor, Saira Banu, Pran, and Lalita Pawar. This film is not related to Rohan Sippy's 2005 film Bluffmaster! starring Abhishek Bachchan.The film was directed by Manmohan Desai.-Plot:...

    (1963) ... Seema
  • Shaadi
    Shaadi (film)
    Shaadi is an 1962 Indian film directed by R. Krishnan and S. Pandu. It stars actors Dharmendra and Saira Banu.The title reflects the Urdu word for a marriage , specifically a wedding ceremony.-Plot:an elder patriarch Ratan Malhotra Shaadi is an 1962 Indian film directed by R. Krishnan and S. Pandu....

    (1962)
  • Junglee
    Junglee
    Junglee is a 1961 Indian movie produced and directed by Subodh Mukherjee. Junglee means "Wild" or "ill mannered" in Urdu & Hindi. The music is by Shankar Jaikishan and the lyrics by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri. The film stars Shammi Kapoor, Lalita Pawar, Shashikala and Asit Sen...

    ( 1961) ... Rajkumari 'Raj'

External links

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