Saira Banu recalls waiting for Dilip Kumar to open eyes in final days

• Dilip Kumar was celebrated on Sunday with a two-day festival.
• It was his 100th birth anniversary.
• Saira Banu talks about Dilip Kumar’s final days in an interview.

At the Dilip Kumar Hero of Heroes celebration on Saturday in Mumbai, veteran actor Saira Banu broke down in tears. Dilip Kumar, a legendary actor, celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday with a two-day film festival organised by PVR Cinemas, INOX, and Film Heritage Foundation.

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She broke down in tears when speaking about Dilip at the inauguration event on Saturday. Speaking of his last moments, she said, “Aisa lagta hai mujhe ke karwat lekar so rahe hain mere paas. Aur jab unki beemar halat thi, pichle saalo mein (I feel he is still sleeping next to me with his face on the other side. When he was ill in the last few years), he used to sleep long hours. And I would always naturally be by his side, the woman in love that I am with him still. Aur jab woh kabhi unki aankh kholte the (And when he would open his eyes), it was a festival for me, it was Eid for me.”
She added, “He would turn around, look at me with those beautiful penetrating eyes, the most beautiful smile and say ‘Saira, abhi tak yahan baithi ho (You are still sitting here).’ I would tell him, “Yes of course, abhi tak baithi hu aapke liye ki aapki aankh khule, aapke face pe, aapke jism pe koi harkat ho. Jab aap sote hai, ye duniya bahut khamosh hojati hai, meaningless hojati hai mere liye. Lekin jab aap jaagte ho, is duniya mein harkat aajati hai log chalne phirne lagte hain (Yes, of course I am still sitting for you so I can watch you open your eyes, make a movement. When you are asleep, the world becomes meaningless for me. But when you wake up, people start moving again)’.”

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The critically acclaimed films by Kumar, including Aan, Devdas, Ram Aur Shyam, and Shakti (1982), will be exhibited. In over 30 theatres and 20 locations throughout the nation during the film gala. Which is being organised in collaboration with PVR Cinemas. Additionally, the Hindi classics will be shown at 25 to 30 INOX theatres. The opening was attended by Waheeda Rehman, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Ramesh Sippy, Subhash Ghai, Biswajit, R Balki, and Rohan Sippy.