Saira Banu makes X debut on her 81st birthday to talk about life, memories of Dilip saab

Veteran actor Saira Banu, marked her 81st birthday with a heartfelt debut on X, formerly known as Twitter. The celebrated actor, who has already won hearts with her nostalgic Instagram posts, chose the occasion to relive treasured moments with her late husband, legendary actor Dilip Kumar.

In her very first post on the platform, Saira Banu shared a touching note, writing, "Today, as I step into another year, I wish to be here with all of you, to talk about life, to relive memories and everything that keeps Dilip Sahib close to our hearts."

Accompanying the message were two poignant photographs, one, a black-and-white snapshot of a young Saira smiling as she cuts a two-tiered cake. The other, a more recent moment with Dilip Kumar by her side as the couple cut a cake together, both brimming with warmth and nostalgia.

On Instagram, the actor continued to share a trove of memories. Among the collection was a rare video featuring a shy Lata Mangeshkar standing beside her, while Dilip Kumar whistles playfully as Saira cuts a birthday cake. Other photos show the couple holding hands, and Saira surrounded by family and close friends. Reflecting on her journey, she wrote, "My birthday has always been such a day—not a moment for revelry alone, but one that touches every thought and being that has



shaped me into the person I am today (sic)."

In a deeply personal note, Saira fondly remembered the pillars of her life, her grandmother Shamshad Waheed Khan, mother Naseem Banu, and elder brother Sultan, describing them as the ‘wealth’ she carries within. She then turned to her most defining relationship, writing of Dilip Kumar, "Yet life, in its true sense, had one more extraordinary gift awaiting me. What began as admiration for an artist admired from afar was, by the tender hand of destiny, transformed into a companionship most rare."

She went on to recall how, by chance or fate, she ended up living close to Dilip Kumar, "The decision to make my home near his was at the time but a matter of circumstance; little did I suspect it to be providence, gently steering my heart toward him. That a man so revered by the world could look upon me with kindness, and in time with love, remains the greatest wonder of my life."

Concluding her message with gratitude, Saira thanked well-wishers for their love, saying, "This day, therefore, is not merely a celebration of age, but of love that endures, of memories that soften the edges of time, and of a bond that remains my life’s most cherished story."

Her entry onto X comes not only as a gift to her fans, but also as a digital diary.