Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu: From age difference, to failed pregnancy, a second marriage: a love story that withstood the test of time

Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu’s Love Story

Saira Banu had revealed in an interview that she was madly in love with Dilip Kumar at the age of just 12. She confessed, "I was not just another girl smitten by Dilip Kumar. For me, it was no castle in the air because I had given my dream the strong foundation of faith- faith in myself and faith in God.” Saira's mother Naseem Banu was an actress herself and Saira met Dilip Kumat through her. Saira recalled that she was elated when the Devdas actor had complimented her, she said, ""When he smiled at me and remarked that I was a pretty girl, I could feel my whole being taking wing and flying rapturously. I knew somewhere deep within me that I was going to be his wife.”

Saira and Dilip’s Marriage

Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu had an age difference of 22 years but when they say age is just a number you see it in the eyes of this evergreen couple as there is only love. Many say that Saira's mother played cupid when it comes to Saira and Dilip's marriage. Saira was 22 and Dilip was 44 when they tied the knot on October 11, 1966. But, the marriage was not all perfect as in his memoir, 'Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow', Kumar had mentioned that his wife was pregnant in 1972, but she had developed high blood pressure in the 8th month and the doctors were unable to save the baby which was strangulated by the umbilical cord. After the incident, the couple decided to never have children.

Testing Times

Later in 1981, Dilip Kumar had married Asma Rehman which he called a regret as the marriage only lasted for 2 years. Dilip Kumar said, "Well, the one episode in my life that I would like to forget and which we, Saira, and I, have pushed into eternal oblivion is a grave mistake I made under pressure of getting involved with a lady named Asma Rehman whom I had met at a cricket match in Hyderabad".

Saira Quit Acting

But in 1976, Saira decided to be the perfect partner to the love of her life and quit her acting career. In an interview in 2104, Saira had said, "I am still head over heels in love with my Kohinoor, Yousuf Sahab, the way I was when I first felt attracted to him as a 12 year-old. Ours has been as good and enduring a marriage as so many marriages that have survived the ups and downs for four decades. No marriage is perfect. How can it be, when as human beings we are not perfect? It is mutual love, respect and adoration that keep a marriage ticking.”

Evergreen Couple

Saira and Dilip's love has stood through though times and everything failed to shatter it down and we have seen that over the years. Especially in his last years, Saira has stood like a rock beside Kumar and it is only a love story that books are written about. Today as we lost Dilip Kumar, a shattered Saira Banu was spotted as she bought back home the mortal remains of the late actor.