Why Saira Banu's Glad Dilip Kumar Didn't Do Film With Elizabeth Taylor

I knew about Lawrence of Arabia, but did not know about Taj Mahal. Need to check if that movie was ever made.

Mike Ghouse

Why Saira Banu's Glad Dilip Kumar Didn't Do Film With Elizabeth Taylor

-Vikram Thapa   | December 13, 2015 17:47 IST (Mumbai)

Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar photographed at their Mumbai residence.

"DILIP SAAB NEVER WANTED TO BE IN HOLLYWOOD AND I AM GLAD HE DIDN'T DO TAJ MAHAL WITH ELIZABETH TAYLOR. IMAGINE WHERE WOULD I GO IF HE WOULD HAVE DONE THE FILM AND SOMETHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED BETWEEN HIM AND ELIZABETH?" SAID SAIRA BANU. DILIP KUMAR RECEIVED THE PADMA VIBHUSHAN HONOUR ON DECEMBER 13



At the age of 93, two days after he celebrated his birthday Dilip Kumar was awarded with the Padma Vibhushan at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on December 13 by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. And while the thespian wasn't keeping well to comment on his achievement, his wife and former actress Saira Banu was emotional.

"Why wouldn't I be (proud of him)," asked Saira. "The government has awarded him with such a huge award. I am the proudest wife in the world today." (Also Read: Dilip Kumar Receives Padma Vibhushan Honour)

"Dilip saab has always been a man of few words. He was very happy when he received the award and he even smiled," she said.

Dilip saab gave many hits at the Indian box office even the western world was well aware of his superstardom. Hollywood director David Lean wanted Dilip Kumar to play the character of Sherif Ali in Lawrence of Arabia, he also wanted the actor to star in Taj Mahal.

"Dilip saab never wanted to be in Hollywood and I am glad he didn't do Taj Mahal with Elizabeth Taylor. Imagine where would I go if he would have done the film and something would have happened between him and Elizabeth?" said Saira Banu.

Dev Anand, Gregory Peck and Suraiya

Shared by P. Chanda, unknown

About 3 months ago, I had posted a story about the unrequited love between movie stars Dev Anand and Suraiya. 

As a footnote to that , it might interest some of you to know that Suraiya was a great fan of Gregory Peck (who isn't ?) and harboured a secret girlish desire to met him someday .

It was 1954 , and one evening , the doorbell to Suraiya's house on Marine Drive rang . A tall handsome foreigner was at the door with a bunch of flowers and enquired about Suraiya from her mother who had answered the bell. 

He spent the next two hours there , and Suraiya  was beside herself with joy at her secret desire coming to fruition . Among other things , she showed Greg. her scrapbook full of cuttings from his films. No, Dev Anand wasn't even informed. 

And Dev Anand has himself admitted , in his Autobiography, that when he came to know of Suraiya's fascination for Greg., of how he would try to ape his mannerisms just to impress her . 

They say , he looked like the Hollywood Superstar . We wonder :

( this was taken at the Willingdon Club in South Bombay when the Indian Film Industry gave a reception in honour of the visiting Gregory Peck ).

Well , there is a faint resemblance , just faint. And that may be one reason why Madame was attracted to the debonair Dev in the first place . 

Yes, we understand . A poor man's , sorry woman's Gregory Peck.

Partha