On Dev Anand's 100th Birth Anniversary, Saira Banu Remembers The Actor As "Shy, Withdrawn"
NDTV
"We the family knew Dev Saab as an effervescent and friendly guy who loved all of us," wrote Saira Banu
It is the birth centenary of Dev Anand and veteran actress Saira Banu has summed up knowing and working with the legendary actor in a beautiful post. The Padosan star began her elaborate post by wishing Dev Anand on his 100th birthday and went on to recall her family's interaction with the Hare Rama Hare Krishna actor over the years. In her extensive post she wrote, "In the 1955 film “C.I.D" Dev Saab wanted to cast my mother Naseemji but at that time Sultan bhai and I were schooling in London and she had to be there with us, so she declined. Shakilaji did the same role. A similar thing happened in the 1958 film “KAALA PAANI” where Naseemji's role was then played by Nalini Jaywant. Sahib had described her as the “Greatest Actress” he ever worked with”. We the family knew Dev Saab as an effervescent and friendly guy who loved all of us, be it Sahib, Naseemji, and myself. His favourite punch line was “Hey”! We must meet” but that happened infrequently."
Talking about the working relation she shared with the actor-director, Saira Banu said, "For Shankar Mukerji's “PYAAR MOHABBAT” Saab and I were filming on a huge ship from Bombay to Aden, shooting on board songs, romantic and comedy scenes with a houseful of foreigner Tourist laden Europeans. The journey was for a couple of days and we were to finish our work in that time. Now, would you believe it, he was so withdrawn of this crowd of foreigners that on the first day he wanted to get accustomed to the idea of them being out there. He was a shy, withdrawn person Dev Saab, he felt he had to get used to the faces of the crowd before starting the work. “Shankar I have to relax and get used to the faces of these foreigners!”
Recalling how she eased Dev Saab for a scene in the film, Saira Banu wrote, "He was a shy, withdrawn person Dev Saab, he felt he had to get used to the faces of the crowd before starting the work. “Shankar I have to relax and get used to the faces of these foreigners!”The next day Shankarji and I ventured into his cabin and talked to him. I said, look you have to pick me up and throw me into the swimming pool and times running out soon, the ship will land at Aden in a days time and we must pack up! I got him out and it was smooth sailing since then."
