"He is always with me at every step of my life."
Saira Banu took to her Instagram profile to pay tribute to her late husband – the veteran superstar Dilip Kumar.
Dilip Kumar and Saira married in 1966 and remained an iconic couple until Kumar’s death on July 7, 2021.
Under an elegant photo in which she was dressed in a magenta saree, the veteran actress reminisced about the love she shared with her husband.
In the picture, she was reading one of his love letters to her. She wrote:
“This magical Valentine’s Day fills me with wondrous remembrances of the times when the sky was adorned with a million happy, sparkling stars, marking the beginning and continuation of a life of ecstatic togetherness spanning 56 years.
“Valentine’s Day holds utmost importance for both Dilip Sahib and me.
“Sahib would often gift me hand-scribbled greeting cards and short notes.
“I still ponder that while he was the tragedy king and the epitome of romance on the big screen, he also understood the essence of love dearly and profoundly, bringing it to life for real with me at each step of our lives.
“In today’s world, where expressions of love often come disguised as cell phone messages and lengthy texts, I feel extremely fortunate to have experienced a love that found its most genuine expression.”
Saira Banu asserted that she will always continue to feel her husband’s presence beside her.
“Nevertheless, I firmly believe that no matter what, Dilip Sahib and I will continue to walk hand in hand by the grace of God, united in our thoughts and being until the end of time.
“He is always with me at every step of my life.
“Reflecting on the love we shared, I think about the time and place where I recall how I couldn’t resist the opportunity to plant a peck on his cheek.
“There was one particular moment when Dilip Sahib whistled, and immediately after, I placed my lips on his right cheek.
“In that moment, I truly wished I could have captured the sound of his whistle to replay it whenever possible, to feel his closeness.
“Dilip Sahib has been an iconic guiding light not only for me but for all those generations who have been inspired by his gracious presence and romantic personality.
“Dilip Sahib endures forever.
“May God always keep him in His love and blessings. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY.”
The heartwarming post attracted comments from fans as they marvelled over the love between Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar.
One fan commented: “Your love story inspires us all, Saira Ji. Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Dilip Kumar Sahib.”
Another praised Saira and wrote:
“Saira aapa, you don’t know how much impact your social media has on my life.”
A third declared: “Your love for each other was so eternal and pure.”
Since joining Instagram, Saira has been revealing anecdotes about Dilip Kumar.
She also writes about their colleagues from the Golden Era of Indian cinema, integrating the captions with incidents from her and Dilip Kumar’s life.
Saira began her film career opposite Shammi Kapoor in Junglee (1961). She was one of the highest-paid and most influential Bollywood actresses in the 1960s and 1970s.
During her career, Saira Banu also starred in hits including Pyaar Mohabbat (1966), Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and Zameer (1975).
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