Saira Banu marked the New Year with a special wish. She didn't just welcome 2025, but also sent a beautiful message to her mother, who also happens to share her birthday on the first day of the year. In an Instagram post, Banu wrote, "The first of January marks the beginning of a New Year for the world, but for me, it is also the birth anniversary of my beloved mother.
Today, as we embrace this new beginning, I want to pay tribute to the woman who shaped my world, my mother, Naseem Banu Sahiba. Known as “Pari Chehra,” she wasn’t just a star, she was a constellation in her own right, the first female superstar of Indian cinema. Yet, behind her charming beauty and legendary fame was a soul steeped in resilience, grace, and love.
We were a family of four my grandmother Shamshad Abdul Waheed Khan, her sister Khurshid Begum, my elder brother Sultan Ahmed, and myself. Life thrust us into the embrace of single parenthood early on, and at just 16, Appaji took on the mantle of our protector and guide. With a determination beyond her years, she ensured we were not only cared for but also given wings to soar.
Her cinematic journey began with Sohrab Modi’s Pukar, where she played the role of Empress Noorjahan. The film’s impact was so profound that audiences removed their shoes before entering cinemas, as though stepping onto a Mughal Court. Legends like Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan have named her the most beautiful woman they ever seen.
Yet, her beauty wasn’t confined to.
