Amitabh Bachchan’s 80th Birthday: “He and Dilip saab exchanged flowers every October 11,” says Saira Banu – Exclusive – Times of India

Said Saira Banu, talking about her wedding anniversaries, “Honestly speaking, all were wonderful and equally special. Our house used to be full of flowers. And you know, Amitabh Bachchan used to send us a lot of lovely flowers. We also used to send him on the same day, as October 11 is his birthday.

When Amitabh and I worked together in ‘Zameer’, he’d told me that though he didn’t know either of us, neither Dilip saab nor I, when he was working in Kolkata, he yet for some inexplicable reason felt a warm sense of belonging towards us.

My half-brother who’s in Austria was also born on October 11. So, October 11 was quite a day for us.”

Added Saira Banu, “There was also an exchange of letters from Dilip saab and Amitabh. I have preserved those letters very carefully. I treasure those letters.”

Saira Banu also spoke about Dilip Kumar never wanting publicity for any cause that he supported. During the chat, she said that her health is okay but she still does not feel like going out and meeting people. Tomorrow is Saira Banu’s second wedding anniversary without Dilip Kumar, who left for his heavenly abode 14 months ago. ”
Himmat hi nahin hoti, mann bhi nahi karta,” she shared.

In Saira Banu’s words: “My husband never liked the spotlight to be on him. He didn’t want any road to be named after him. He didn’t want any statue of his made. What he liked was to be in the forefront of social causes, whether it meant that he had to travel in trucks in those donation drives. Once he went abroad too to lead a cause when Sunil Dutt could not travel due to some reason, but he made it clear to the organisers that he didn’t want the proceedings/event to bear his name.”