Exclusive! UNTOLD STORY of Lata Mangeshkar’s last meeting with Dilip Kumar: Saira Banu narrates details – Times of India

Talking to Saira Banu, a little while ago, we learned about Lata ji’s last meeting with Dilip Kumar.

Reminiscing about the meeting, Saira Banu told ETimes, “A flood of memories come to my mind as I remember the many joyful occasions when Lata ji and Dilip Saheb met at our house. Though the moments are all etched sharply in my mind, I’m going to describe the last meeting which happened some time in 2013 because it was very special, almost magical.

Lata ji expressed a desire to come home and spend some time with Saheb and, needless to say, I was very thrilled. There was a time when she visited us whenever she was passing through Bandra and it was like a celebration for us because it was not just Dilip Saheb who was pleased to have her company. She was a favourite of my grandmother Shamshad Begum Sahiba, the famous Hindustani classical vocalist for whom Lata ji had great respect for.

Now, she was visiting us after a long time and she was as anxious as I was since Saheb was not keeping good health and there were days when he slept early. She said she could make it very late in the evening along with her niece Rachana who would be free only after 7 pm or so.

Well, she arrived and we hurried to Saheb’s exclusive sitting room.

To my joy, Saheb was eagerly waiting for us- his arms open, his eyes smiling and his face glowing with happiness. Evidently one of the attendants had informed him that he had a surprise visitor.

“ Meri choti behen aayi hai,” he exclaimed and embraced her.

It was like old times and I can still visualise the wonderful reunion in my mind. For a while they were silent, perhaps not knowing what to say to each other.

Lata ji was speechless and so were all of us who were witness to the scene. When the tea and snacks arrived Lata ji fed him like she always did and he was so happy to relive the happy times they had spent in the past- be it at our house or the studios.

She stayed on for as long as she could and I was thrilled by the magic she worked on Saheb who didn’t seem to be in a mood at all to retire for the night.

As for me, I could have stayed awake all night.

I have always treasured a reply Lata ji gave to an interviewer who had asked her to name the leading lady for whom her voice suited the most. She replied: ‘Saira Banu’. I was and I am forever overwhelmed by the compliment.”

We at ETimes understand Saira ji’s loss. The world has lost an icon. The world has lost a legend. The Queen of Melody will never sing a new song again.