Lata Mangeshkar’s mortal remains have been submitted unto the ‘Panchatattva’. Her last rites have been performed and the funeral pyre has been lit. This is the time when memories are flooding every single mind of India. Every single individual who has ever heard any song of the songstress is aching now. Who can forget the innumerable melodies that have come to life because they had Lataji’s mesmerising voice giving them life on the silverscreen? We sure can’t.
One actress who has regaled onscreen especially on songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar is none other than Saira Banu. Who can forget Ruk Jaa Aaye Hawa from Shagird or Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaar from the same film? Well, there are countless other songs that have been lip synced by this actress. Well, we are talking about none other than the very beautiful Saira Banu! Yes, you read it right!
In an interaction with ETimes, the beautiful yesteryear actress revealed details about Lataji’s last meeting with her husband the late Mr Dilip Kumar. She told the publication that she was elated when Lataji informed that she would like to come and spend sometime with Saheb (Dilip Saab), she calls the experience of her last meeting with her husband ‘magical’, “A flood of memories come to my mind as I remember the many joyful occasions when Lata ji and Dilip Saheb met at our house. Though the moments are all etched sharply in my mind, I’m going to describe the last meeting which happened some time in 2013 because it was very special, almost magical.
” Lata ji expressed a desire to come home and spend some time with Saheb and, needless to say, I was very thrilled. There was a time when she visited us whenever she was passing through Bandra and it was like a celebration for us because it was not just Dilip Saheb who was pleased to have her company. She was a favourite of my grandmother Shamshad Begum Sahiba, the famous Hindustani classical vocalist for whom Lata ji had great respect for.”
She went on to reveal that those were the days when Dilip saab wasn’t really keeping well and was in the habit of going to bed early and the catch was Lataji stated that she wouldbe arriving pretty late, “Now, she was visiting us after a long time and she was as anxious as I was since Saheb was not keeping good health and there were days when he slept early. She said she could make it very late in the evening along with her niece Rachana who would be free only after 7 pm or so. Well, she arrived and we hurried to Saheb’s exclusive sitting room.”
Sairaji went on to reveal that she was surprised to see Dilip saab waiting fior them with open arms! “To my joy, Saheb was eagerly waiting for us- his arms open, his eyes smiling and his face glowing with happiness. Evidently one of the attendants had informed him that he had a surprise visitor. “ Meri choti behen aayi hai,” he exclaimed and embraced her. It was like old times and I can still visualise the wonderful reunion in my mind. For a while they were silent, perhaps not knowing what to say to each other. Lata ji was speechless and so were all of us who were witness to the scene. When the tea and snacks arrived Lata ji fed him like she always did and he was so happy to relive the happy times they had spent in the past- be it at our house or the studios. She stayed on for as long as she could and I was thrilled by the magic she worked on Saheb who didn’t seem to be in a mood at all to retire for the night. As for me, I could have stayed awake all night.” she told the portal.