Two legends. One golden friendship.
On Thursday, as Bollywood’s eternal ‘Dream Girl’ Hema Malini turned 77, her dear friend and veteran actress Saira Banu marked the occasion with a touching note that felt like a warm letter from the past.
Taking to Instagram, Saira shared an old photograph of herself with her late husband, the legendary Dilip Kumar, and a young Hema Malini.
Her caption was a heartfelt stroll through memory lane. “It fills my heart with joy to wish my dearest Hema a very Happy Birthday. She has always been a vision of grace, beauty, and quiet strength. A true ‘Dream Girl’ not just on screen, but in every way she carries herself,” wrote Saira.
In her note, Saira Banu described their bond as one rooted in warmth, mutual admiration, and shared memories from the golden years of Hindi cinema. She recalled how conversations with Hema still flow effortlessly on everything.
“There is a gentleness about her spirit that remains unchanged through the years,” she wrote.
Saira also opened up about the first time she met Hema back in 1966 on the sets of ‘Deewana’ at RK Studios. Hema, then a newcomer, had arrived with her producer, and even at that first meeting, Saira was captivated by her calm beauty and poised demeanor.
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Their paths crossed again soon after while shooting near the scenic Krishna Raj Sagar Dam. That’s where their friendship truly bloomed.
“Our rooms were next to each other, and every evening my mother, Hema, her mother, and I would sit in the verandah chatting, exchanging beauty secrets, and laughing late into the night,” Saira reminisced.
The anecdotes flowed like a soft conversation between two old friends. Saira fondly remembered how her mother used to put ‘lobaan’ (frankincense) in her hair for fragrance, a small detail that Hema had long forgotten until Saira brought it up.
The actress also recalled how she and Dilip Kumar had once introduced Hema Malini to the press in Madras, an event that Hema still remembers for the kindness Dilip Sahib showed her that day.
“His words are still etched in her heart,” Saira wrote.
In one of the most touching parts of her note, Saira spoke about recently watching Hema perform a graceful dance with her husband Dharmendra on a television show. The sight of the evergreen couple, still in sync after all these years, filled her with emotion.
“The affection and comfort between them warmed my heart,” she wrote. “It reminded me once again of the beauty of lasting companionship.”
Ending her post on a loving note, Saira wished her friend endless happiness and good health, writing, “Dearest Hema, may your days continue to shine with the same light and love you have always brought into the lives of others.”