I do not want to seek glory, says Saira Banu

The legendary beauty feels that her priorities lie with her husband, thespian Dilip Kumar.

It could have certainly been a casting coup. According to Shaheen, the actor-niece of Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu, director Ashutosh Gowarikar had approached her aunt with a role in his magnum opus ‘Jodha Akbar’ (Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai starrer).

She was offered to play the role of King Akbar’s (played by Hrithik) mother. Apparently, Ashutosh felt that Saira’s royal looks would befit the character.

But Saira politely declined the offer. “It is true that recently a big banner offered me a pivotal role. But I declined it because Yusuf saab and I need each other constantly at this stage of our lives. We have to fend for each other now. Earlier, we had my mother (the late actor Naseem Banu) with us. My brother (Sultan) was also staying with us. Now, I have a different set of priorities,” she explains.

Saira continues, “It may sound abnormal but the fact is that I do not miss acting at all. My life has been a bed of roses thanks to my husband. Today, I do not want to seek glory by facing the camera again. I would say that serving my husband a cup of coffee in the morning and watching him smile is more rewarding and enjoyable than being appreciated for my performance in a film.”

Incidentally, Poonam Sinha, wife of actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha, is now essaying the role that Saira declined!