Saira Banu celebrates her ‘favourite Akka’ Vyjayanthimala’s 91st birthday with rare photos featuring Dilip Kumar | – Times of India

Veteran actress Saira Banu took to social media to share a heartfelt birthday message for her dear friend and legendary actress Vyjayanthimala, who turned 91 today. Vyjayanthimala, a celebrated actress and dancer, has made an indelible mark on Indian cinema, earning numerous accolades. Her illustrious career began at the tender age of 16 in 1949, and she has continued to be a beloved figure in the industry ever since.
In her emotional tribute, Saira Banu shared some never-seen-before pictures of herself with Vyjayanthimala and her late husband, the legendary actor Dilip Kumar.Along with the pictures, she penned a heartfelt note, reminiscing about their long-standing friendship and the cherished memories they have shared over the years.
Saira Banu also reminisced about the time she started working on the film ‘Junglee.’ She shared an endearing moment when Vyjayanthimala saw her at a film premiere and gently touched her cheek, calling her “beautiful.” This small gesture left a lasting impression on Saira, who admitted she didn’t wash her face for a week afterward.
She went on to share a touching anecdote about the bond between Dilip Kumar, whom she lovingly refers to as Sahib, and Vyjayanthimala, whom she calls Akka. Despite a brief misunderstanding that led to Vyjayanthimala being replaced in ‘Ram Aur Shyam,’ their friendship eventually blossomed once again, thanks in part to Saira’s efforts to bring them back together.
Here’s what Saira Banu’s note reads – “Wishing my favourite, Padma Vibhushan, Vyjayantimalaji (Akka Elder Sister) a very happy birthday! As I write about her, you will come to know how she became Akka to me. My first memory of her is when I was visiting Mehboob Studios, with my mother, who was visiting her friend Mrs. Akhtar Mehboob Khan. I was thrilled to see such a spectacular song number of ‘Radha Krishna,’ where Vyjayantimalaji was swirling in a beautiful Ghagra Choli.
Next, we met when I started working in ‘Junglee.’ She saw me at a film premiere and fondly touched my cheek, saying ‘beautiful.’ I think I did not wash my face that week! I always loved the pairing of Sahib with Vyjayantimalaji; the pair has given the maximum number of hits together, and my all-time favourite is the classic “Gunga Jumna.” She did a fabulous job as Dhanno, and Sahib worked very hard on her diction to record the Purbi dialogues on tape with the correct pronunciations and dialect.
There was a certain understanding between Sahib and Akka, and the onscreen chemistry worked in their favour. Akka once quoted that she learned a lot working with Sahib; it was amazing watching him sink into a character and become oblivious of all else. However, once there came an unfortunate misunderstanding between them, and somehow, after shooting for “Ram Aur Shyam” for a few days, she was replaced.

Sahib and Akka, along with her husband Dr. Bali, would keep running into each other in Delhi at functions and celebration dinners. During one such meeting, the four of us met. Sahib and Dr. Bali sat together and chatted merrily, whereas Akka and I huddled and talked. This went on for a while, and each of them would avoid meeting the other’s gaze until I got fed up and brought the two of them together to patch up as friends again. That was quite a feat!
After this smooth sailing, Akka and her son Suchendra would always visit us at home whenever travelling from Madras. Once, there was a complicated issue troubling both of them for a long time, and Sahib and I, with sheer good luck, managed to solve that complex situation completely. Ever since, Vyjayantimala labelled me as her ‘angel,’ and as for me, Vyjayantimala turned into Akka.”

Fans were quick to flood the comment section of Saira Banu’s post with heart emojis and words of admiration, celebrating not only Vyjayanthimala’s birthday but also the enduring friendship between these two iconic actresses.
Vyjayanthimala and Dilip Kumar’s on-screen magic in classics like ‘Madhumati,’ ‘Naya Daur,’ and ‘Devdas’ remains etched in the hearts of cinema lovers, and Saira Banu’s tribute is a beautiful reminder of the bonds that last a lifetime.