Farida Jalal joins Saira Banu’s 80th birthday celebrations

Mumbai (Maharashtra) (India), August 25 (ANI): Veteran actress Saira Banu recently celebrated her 80th birthday in a touching celebration surrounded by her close family and friends, including veteran actress Farida Jalal.

In a series of posts on her official Instagram account, Saira Banu shared glimpses of her birthday festivities that took place on August 23.

The images revealed a beautifully decorated space, with a ‘Happy Birthday’ banner and large helium balloons marking the special occasion.

Banu, dressed in an elegant olive green suit, was seen smiling amidst vibrant floral arrangements and heartfelt celebrations.

One of the highlights of the evening was a video featuring Farida Jalal and other close friends singing a birthday song to Banu.

The joy and warmth of the moment was palpable as Banu, who wore a bright blue suit for the festivities, interacted with her loved ones, capturing precious memories on her phone. The evening also included a delicious dinner.

In a touching note accompanying the shared photos, Saira Banu reflected on the essence of life and milestones. “How do we truly measure a life? Is it in terms of milestones or fleeting moments that we cherish later? Or perhaps in terms of birthdays that come back every year, like an old friend?” Banu reflected in her post.

She stressed that the true measure of life is found in the presence of loved ones, expressing gratitude to her family and friends who made her 80th birthday memorable.

Banu gave special thanks to her family members, including her daughter Shaheen, who travelled from Chennai to be with her, and her grandnieces, Anaiya and Ansharah, who played a vital role in organising the celebration.

She also thanked her friends like Dr Meera Agarwal, Farida Jalal and others who contributed to this joyous event.

In her heartfelt note, Banu described her family as her “Rock of Gibraltar,” highlighting their role in making her birthday special.

She concludes, “So how do you measure life? I believe it is a room full of family and friends, a table set with food and an invisible thread called love. Thank God for family and friends!” On the work front, Saira Banu made her acting debut in 1961 with ‘Junglee’ opposite Shammi Kapoor for which she received a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress. She received three more Best Actress nominations for ‘Shagird’ (1967), ‘Diwana’ (1967) and ‘Sagina’ (1974). Banu went on to work in a number of films, including “Bluff Master” (1963), “Ayee Milan Ki Bela” (1964), “Jhuk Gaya Aasman” (1968), “Padosan” (1968), “Victoria No. 203” (1972), “Hera Pheri” (1976) and “Bairaag” (1976). (ANI)