A misunderstanding between Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala Bala cost the latter a leading role in 1967’s Ram Aur Shyam, recalled Saira Banu in a long Instagram post on Tuesday.
Revealing the incident on Vyjayanthimala’s 91st birthday, Saira went on to describe how she acted as a catalyst to eliminate the misunderstanding that had prompted the veteran actress to get replaced after a few days of shooting.
“Once, there was 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,” she wrote, reflecting on the tension that marked Kumar and Vyjayanthimala’s social interactions after the misunderstanding.
“During one such meeting, the four of us gathered. 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 avoided meeting the other’s gaze until I got fed up and brought the two of them together to patch up as friends again,” added the actress, joyfully recalling how she had brought about a reconciliation between the two Bollywood legends during a social gathering in Delhi.
“After this smooth sailing, Akka and her son Suchendra would always visit us at home whenever travelling from Madras,” shared Saira, recounting an incident that led Vyjayanthimala to label her an “angel”.
“Once, there was a complicated issue troubling both of them for a long time, and Sahib and I, with sheer good fortune, managed to resolve that complex situation completely,” she wrote, noting how this incident had further cemented their bond.
In her birthday note, Saira also reminisced about her first encounter with Vyjayanthimala. “My first memory of her is when I visited Mehboob Studios with my mother, who was visiting her friend Mrs Akhtar Mehboob Khan. I was thrilled to see a spectacular song number ‘Radha Krishna’ where Vyjayanthimala was swirling in a beautiful ghagra choli.”
The 79-year-old actress also narrated her next meeting with Vyjayanthimala. “Next, we met when I started working on 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,” reads her note.
Saira also mentioned her admiration for the successful on-screen pairing of Vyjayanthimala and Kumar, particularly in the classic film Gunga Jumna.
Regarded as one of Indian cinema's finest actresses and dancers, Vyjayanthimala dominated the Indian screens of the 1950s and 1960s with films like Devdas, Naya Daur, Aasha, Gunga Jumna, Sangam, Jewel Thief and Ganwaar. She also starred in a handful of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali films.
Vyjayanthimala was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour, in 1968. In May this year, she was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour.
Saira, who made her Bollywood debut opposite Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film Junglee, married Kumar on October 11, 1966, when she was just 22 years old. The actress starred alongside her husband in several films, including Gopi (1970), Sagina Mahato (1971) and Jwaar Bhata (1973). Dilip Kumar passed away on July 7, 2021, at the age of 98.
