Saira Bano born August 23, 1944, is a popular Bollywood actress. She acted in many blockbusters from 1960-80. Saira Banu was born to father Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq, a film producer and actress Naseem Banu, the granddaughter of a courtesan Chamiyan Bai. In 1966 Saira Banu married the veteran actor Dilip Kumar. Saira had spent considerable years of her childhood in London and went to finish school from there. Saira Banu`s niece Shaheen Banu was also an actress who was married to former actor Sumeet Saigal and after divorce remarried Atul Patel in London.

Film Career of Saira Babu
Saira Banu made her acting debut in the 1961, opposite Shammi Kapoor in his hit film Junglee for which she earned her first Filmfare nomination as Best Actress. This film also instantly made her a successful actress throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Saira was famous for her typical dramatically challenging roles.

Saira Banu was thought to be one of the few actresses who started wearing sensational attires in Bollywood. She starred in April Fool, followed by a number of movies including Resham Ki Dori, Victoria no. 403, International Crook, Saazish, Pocketmaar, Purab Aur Pacchim. Her chemistry with Dharmendra was commendable in Saazish. Her brave attempts to establish a reputation as an actress after Sagina, Gopi and Bairaag (all with Dilip Kumar) and films like Chaitali, by director Hrishikesh Mukherjee`s met with moderate success. She earned three additional Filmfare nominations as Best Actress for Diwana (1968), Shagird (1967), and Sagina (1974). The turning point of her career was the comedy movie Padosan with Sunil Dutt which established her to be one of the best actresses. In 1976, Saira decided to retire from her film career. She then appeared in a character role opposite her husband in Duniya (1984) and made her last film appearance in film Faisla in 1988.

After leaving films, She has become a successful television producer recently producing the television serial Stree... Teri Kahani. Her niece Shaheen Patel has written this serial.

Filmography of Saira Banu

Faisla (1988)
Duniya (1984)
Kala Aadmi (1978)
Hera Pheri(1976)
Zameer (1975), Nehle Pe Dehla
Chaitali (1975), Pocketmaar, Sagina, Bairaag
Jwar Bhata(1974)
Resham Ki Dori (1973)
International Crook (1973)
Victoria No. 203 (1972)
Saazish (1972)
Purab Aur Paschim (1971)
Gopi (1970)
Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969)
Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan (1968)
Padosan (1968)
Aman (1967)
Diwana (1967)
Shagird (1967)
Pyar Mohabbat (1966)
Yeh Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai (1966)
Saaz aur awaaz (1966)
April Fool (1964)
Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964)
Door Ki Awaaz (1964)
Bluff Master (1963)
Shaadi (1962)
Junglee( 1961)
Saazish (1988)