Saira Banu was 16 when she made her debut in Bollywood films. Today, the legendary actress turns 67!
She said in a show, that she had no talent and no dancing experience. Saira started taking 'Kathak' and 'Bharata Natyam' lessons. Soon she became a dancer and her films flaunted more of her dance. Banu made her acting debut at 17 opposite Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film 'Junglee' for which she earned her first Filmfare nomination as Best Actress.
The famous song from this movie "Yaahoo!! Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe" sung by Mohammed Rafi was a big success.
'Junglee' instantly made Bano a successful actress throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. But it is said that the turning point of her career was the romantic-comedy 'Padosan', which brought her to be one of the leading Bollywood actresses.
She did earn three additional Filmfare nominations as Best Actress for 'Shagird' (1967), 'Diwana' (1968), and 'Sagina' (1974).
Bano married actor Dilip Kumar in 1966.She was 22 and he was 44 at the time.
The beautiful, mesmerizing Saira Bano is still as inspiring as the actress she once was! We wish her a great 'Happy Birthday!'