Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar affectionately used to call his wife Saira Banu “aunty”, revealed the actress in a long note on her husband’s third death anniversary on Sunday, sharing how the late actor couldn’t sleep without her being by his side.

“He was a fun-loving person, always calling me ‘Aunty’ and laughing. Yet, beneath the jests, laughter, and heartfelt notes, there lay pure love,” Saira reminisced about her husband.

Recounting Dilip’s struggle with insomnia before their marriage, Saira tenderly wrote about how he eventually could fall asleep with his wife by his side. “You see, Sahib was the greatest actor of all time. He had everything at his disposal, yet not many people know he suffered from severe insomnia. Before our marriage, even after taking pills, he would stay awake until dawn. However, once we got married and became indispensable to each other, he started sleeping on time,” she mentioned.

The veteran actress fondly remembered how Kumar used to call her his sleeping pill and his pillow.

“Dearest Yousuf Jaan. No matter what, we will still walk together hand in hand, united in our thoughts and being until the end of time. My days stretch on like an eternity, each moment a cherished memory of our togetherness. Often, I reflect on the love and life we shared, which continues to make us complete. For love, my dear Sahib, consumes all that remains of a being," wrote the 79-year-old actress in her note, which she posted alongside a series of throwback photos with her husband and a picture of a funny message that Kumar had once written for her.

Saira also mentioned that Dilip was also a friend of former Indian prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Narsimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She said the actor was a fervent supporter of sportsmen and played football and cricket with great ease. “In fact, he would have wanted to be a sportsman at the national level rather than what destiny had in store for him,” she wrote.

The actress expressed her gratitude to Dilip Kumar’s admirers, fans and well-wishers who take the time to send lovely messages on various occasions. “Dilip Sahib is an inspiration for six generations of actors and future generations... Dilip Sahib is forever…May Allah keep him in His love and blessings…Aameen,” she signed off.

Saira, who made her Bollywood debut opposite Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film Junglee, tied the knot with Dilip on October 11, 1966, when she was only 22 years old. The actress starred alongside her husband in several films like Gopi (1970), Sagina Mahato (1971) and Jwaar Bhata (1973).

Dilip passed away on July 7, 2021, at the age of 98.