12-year-old Saira Banu dreamed of marrying Dilip Kumar, 34: ‘Out of love, not duress’

Saira Banu, a 12-year-old girl, dreamed of marrying the legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who was 34 years her senior. This dream persisted even when she met him on the set of Mughal-E-Azam, believing she had fallen in love with him. A decade later, at the age of 22, she married the 44-year-old actor. Despite facing a hostile atmosphere at Dilip Kumar's home due to his sisters' disapproval, Saira remained devoted to him, never complaining even when she fell ill from emotional stress.

When Dilip Kumar secretly married Asma Rehman in 1982, Saira supported him, calling herself fortunate to be Dilip Kumar's wife. They were married for 55 years, with Saira giving up her career to care for Dilip, who encouraged her to continue acting after marriage. Saira saw herself as the chosen one, believing one needed to have "some caliber" to be Dilip Kumar's wife.