Born on August 23, 1944, Saira Banu turns 80 today. Although she’s no longer active in the film industry, she keeps in touch with her fans through social media

She recently took her Instagram fans on an inside glimpse into her 80th birthday celebrations

She shared the photo along with a heartfelt message, thanking her family and friends for making her special day unforgettable.

Saira Banu made her acting debut at the young age of 16 with the film 'Junglee' in 1961, opposite the famous actor Shammi Kapoor

Her debut film was a massive success and established her as a promising young talent in the industry. Her expressive eyes, innocent charm, and graceful presence on screen quickly garnered attention.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Saira Banu appeared in numerous successful films, showcasing her versatility as an actress

Some of her notable films during this period include 'Bluff Master,' 'Aayi Milan Ki Bela,' 'April Fool,' 'Shagird,' 'Purab Aur Paschim,' 'Victoria No. 203,' and 'Padosan'

She often played roles ranging from romantic leads to dramatic characters, displaying her acting prowess and earning her a place among the top actresses of her time

One of her most iconic films is 'Padosan' (1968), where she played the role of Bindu, a simple and sweet girl who becomes the love interest of Sunil Dutt's character

Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar got married on October 11, 1966. The actress was only 22 and Dilip Kumar was 44. 

Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu have had many successful films as a pair in the '50s and '60s. "I am very headstrong and once I made up my mind, there was no stopping me. I knew many beautiful women wanted to marry Saab, but he chose me. It was my dream come true and that's what my marriage has been, a perfect dream," Saira Banu said in a mid-day interview.

Saira Banu, who has acted in films such as 'Junglee', 'Purab Aur Paschim', Hera Pheri, said, "If you have read Dilip Saab's autobiography, you would be familiar with his quote... That the warmth of the clasp of the hand of strangers who approach him to tell him how much they liked his work is bigger than any award for him"

Emotional about her husband and the love of her life, Saira Banu told mid-day, "Seriously, there is no woman as blessed as I am... I thank my Allah every day for this. It has been my good fortune to be able to do anything for the man I love intensely. For me, it was always Saab, no one else. I was his fan from the time I can remember. While still a teenager, I wanted to be his wife"

Despite many believing that the age difference between the couple would not make their marriage a success, Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu were going strong and married for over 50 years

There was an almost a generational 20-year age gap between Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar, but Indian filmdom's highly regarded couple enjoyed a blissful married life