Saira Banu recalls Dilip Kumar giving away her birthday gifts for him to admirers

On Dilip Kumarrsquos 102nd birth anniversary on Wednesday veteran actress Saira Banu has remembered her ldquoSahibrdquo and recalled that whenever the legendary star was around her he shed the aura of a legend and let the child within him emerge playful carefree and unburdened by the weight of worldly chaos Saira took to Instagram where she shared a video montage featuring memorable moments with Dilip Kumar who passed away aged 98 in 2021For the caption she wrote ldquoA few people walk into your life to stay becoming a part of you in every possible way Thatrsquos what happened when Dilip Sahib entered my life to stay with me forever We are one in our thoughts and beingrdquoldquoThe days may change and the seasons may pass but Sahib has always been there walking with me hand in hand Today on his birthday I reflect on what a gift he is not just to me but to everyone fortunate enough to know himrdquoShe said that to the world Dilip Kumar was the epitome of mannerisms poise chivalry and a presence that could silence a room ldquoYet whenever he was around me he became something else entirely He shed the aura of a legend and let the child within him emerge playful carefree unburdened by the weight of worldly chaos He laughed with ease teased with the innocence of a boy and lost himself in the simplest of moments as though the world beyond us had ceased to existrdquoView this post on InstagramA post shared by Saira Banu Khan sairabanuDilip Kumars love for travel and spontaneityldquoOne thing I can say for certain about Sahib is that he could never sit still He loved to travel Whenever he had days off from shooting he would ask us to accompany him to beautiful destinations My brother Sultanrsquos children others in the family and I would often join him on these trips creating some of our fondest memories togetherrdquoSharing a memory Banu noted ldquoHis spontaneity still amazes me I remember one such moment vividly I had gone to the airport just to see him off bidding him goodbye as he prepared to leave He turned to me and asked ldquoSaira what are you up tordquo I casually replied ldquoMy shoot got canceled so nothingrdquoldquoWhat happened next left me astonished that he took me along with him In those days flight tickets were booked directly at the counter Sahib promptly sent his secretary to secure a ticket for me and took me along with himrdquoldquoNow picture this I was dressed in a simple cotton salwar kameez with no change of clothes and no preparation whatsoever Yet Sahib brought me to this grand wedding I attended the entire ceremony in that simple attire while Dilip Sahib walked beside me hand in hand His simplicity defined him and it was this very trait that allowed him to effortlessly surprise me and draw me into his worldhelliprdquoDilip Kumar would give away the gifts he receivedSaira Banu also spoke about how Dilip Kumar was not interested in material possessions Speaking of surprises as meticulous as I am I would spare no effort in making his birthdays special I would handpick fine cashmere sweaters select elegant cufflinks and choose exquisite watches for Sahib Yet much to my amusement he would give them away without hesitation to anyone who admired them At first I couldnrsquot understand it How could a man part so easily with things so precious But soon I realized that Dilip Sahib was so fulfilled and content within himself that no material possession could rival the treasures of his art his family and the love he gave and receivedIt wasnrsquot just him Irsquove observed this in many iconic legends They seem untouched by material desires living so completely in their own being and their purpose Dilip Sahib embodied this rare quality a man so enriched by the intangible so unaffected by worldly possessions He inhabited a world of his own creation where every action and every word carried meaning and purposeAs for me I was blessed beyond measure to witness the man behind the legend The world may revere him as its Kohinoor but to me he was simply the man who made the ordinary extraordinaryHappy Birthday Yousuf Jaan