Saira Banu in Kashmir Ki Kali Hoon Main song.
On Guru Purnima, Saira Banu shared a note thanking her mentors. She talked about how important the occasion is and how mentors impact our lives.
On Guru Purnima, Saira Banu shared a note thanking her mentors. She talked about how important the occasion is and how mentors impact our lives. Saira felt lucky to have had great gurus who shaped her career in Indian cinema and her life with Dilip Kumar.
Sharing a carousel of photos, she wrote, “Personally, I see it as a moment to be thankful and appreciative every single day. I consider myself fortunate to have been blessed with many revered gurus throughout my life, whose teachings and guidance have profoundly shaped me, especially in my journey through Indian cinema and after my marriage to Dilip Sahib”.
She wrote about Roshan Kumari Ji, a Padma Shri awardee and Kathak expert who worked with Satyajit Ray. Roshan Kumari Ji taught her Kathak and greatly influenced her success in classical dance. Saira credited Kumari for her dedication and guidance, saying, “She imparted to me the art of classical dance – Kathak of the Jaipur Gharana. Her grace and discipline were nothing short of a masterclass and a blessing to the Indian art form. Everything I achieved in classical dancing is attributed to her; she dedicated herself fully to nurturing and shaping me as a classical dancer.”
Another key mentor she mentioned was P.L. Raj Ji, who choreographed Kashmir Ki Kali for her first film, Junglee, and worked with her on other movies. Also, her rehearsal composer Shalini Deshpande worked hard to help her perfect her dance moves. “I had the privilege of working during ‘Junglee’, where he beautifully choreographed ‘Kashmir Ki Kali,’ my very first song, and continued to collaborate with me on subsequent films. As also my rehearsal composer Shalini Deshpande who left no stone unturned and painstakingly rehearsed with me what movements had been set for me in the respective dances,” she added.
She remembered them with great love and respect and wrote that she felt the need to share their stories and the lasting impact they’ve had on her life.
