Saira Banu took to Instagram to celebrate Vyjayantimala’s 91st birthday, recalling their first meeting and close bond. Mumbai: On Vyjayantimala’s 91st birthday on Tuesday, Saira Banu wished the actress, whom she lovingly referred to as “akka” and recalled her first meet during a song shoot. Sharing a picture with Vyjayanthimala, Saira wrote: “Wishing my favourite, Padma Vibhushan, Vyjayantimalaji (Akka Elder Sister) a very happy birthday! As I write about her, you will come to know how she became Akka to me.
” Talking about her “first memory” of Vyjayanthimala, Saira Banu said it was when “I was visiting Mehboob Studios, with my mother, who was visiting her friend Mrs. Akhtar Mehboob Khan.” “I was thrilled to see such a spectacular song number of ‘Radha Krishna’, where Vyjayantimalaji was swirling in a beautiful Ghagra Choli.
Next, we met when I started working in ‘Junglee’.” A post shared by Saira Banu Khan (@sairabanu) Saira Banu recalled how Vyjayanthimala saw her at a film premiere and fondly touched her cheek and called her “beautiful”. “I think I did not wash my face that week! I always loved the pairing of Sahib with Vyjayantimalaji; the pair has given the maximum number of hits together, and my all-time favourite is the classic ‘Gunga Jumna’.
” Saira said Vyjayanthimala did a “fabulous job” as Dhanno. “Sahib worked very hard on her diction to record the Purbi dialogues on tape with the correct pronunciations and dialect..