When Bollywood Legends Met: Dilip Kumar Introduces Saira Banu to Madhubala

December 19, 2025

Mumbai: In an old interview with Lehren TV, the late legendary actor Dilip Kumar recalled the special moment when he introduced his future wife Saira Banu to his famous co-star Madhubala on the sets of Mughal-e-Azam decades ago.

First meeting on the sets of Mughal-e-Azam

Recalling his first meeting with Saira Banu, Dilip Kumar said that she was very young at the time and he knew her even before she entered the film industry.

He said, “She appeared briefly in Mughal-e-Azam at the beginning, she was just a child then. I was the one who introduced her to Madhu bala. I would pick her up and make her sit on a stool, and that’s where it all started.”

Opposition to Saira Banu’s film career

Dilip Kumar also revealed that he was initially unhappy with Saira Banu’s decision to enter films. He said that Saira Banu was educated and had studied in England, so he wanted her to get married instead of joining the film industry.

He said, “I used to think, ‘What will girls do in films?’ But she remained firm in her decision.”

Marriage and an Immortal Legacy

Saira Banu eventually chose acting and became one of the most successful actresses in Hindi cinema. Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu married in 1966. At that time, Saira Banu was 22 years old, while Dilip Kumar was 44 years old. There was a 22-year age difference between the two.

Dilip Kumar passed away on July 7, 2021, at the age of 98. He had a film career spanning over six decades and became immortal in the hearts of cinema lovers through memorable films like Devdas, Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga Jamuna, Naye Daur, Ram Aur Shyam and Kranti.