Saira Banu Pens Heartfelt Note for Hema Malini, Recalls First Meeting in 1966 and Decades of Friendship

Saira recalled the day she first met Hema and the countless conversations that turned co-stars into lifelong friends, along with rare behind-the-scenes pictures. I was struck by her effortless beauty.

In her post, Saira wrote of the time she had met Hema for the first time in 1966 on the sets of Diwana with Raj Kapoor. "I was instantly struck by Hema's effortless beauty and graceful personality," Saira wrote. She said the first meeting had stayed with her and was the start of a connection that only deepened over the years.

Long conversations at Krishna Raj Sagar Dam
Saira also recalled one sweet moment when both actresses were shooting at the Krishna Raj Sagar Dam. Hema was shooting Sapno Ka Saudagar with Raj Kapoor, and Saira was shooting Mehmood’s classic Padosan.

As their rooms were next to each other, the two spent hours together on the verandah. “We would talk about beauty, skincare, daily life and everything in between,” Saira wrote.

She added that their own mothers often joined them, and those afternoons of warmth and wisdom and laughter became some of her most treasured memories.

Heart-melting throwback pics
The post had unseen pictures from that era, giving a nostalgic peek into the golden days of Bollywood. The photos, combined with Saira's words, went viral in no time.

The actresses have garnered praise from fans for staying so close over the decades. Many called it a “beautiful reminder of genuine friendship in the film industry”.

Saira’s note paid tribute not just to Hema Malini’s grace but also to the little moments – the conversations, the shared experiences and the laughter – that build a friendship away from the camera.

The emotional post has struck a chord online, bringing back memories of when stars off-screen were just as warm as they were on-screen.