Saira Banu shares Dilip Kumar broke down when he saw Raj Kapoor ‘unconscious’ in hospital after suffering heart attack: ‘Raj wake up and stop acting’

Saira wrote on Instagram, “Raj Kapoor and Dilip Sahib loved each other in the same measure as they loved their own siblings, but they both shared thoughts, emotions and secret aspirations more with each other than perhaps anyone in their own respective families.”

 

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Such was the bond between Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar that Kapoor once returned from London just to attend a function hosted by Kumar. “This was the love and respect they had for each other. At our marriage, Raj ji and Shashi danced all the way from Sahib’s house to my house,” wrote Saira.

She added, “Of course, they had their professional rivalry, and it would have been abnormal if they did not compete as professionals, but the beauty of it was that they hated to see each other fail or fall from their respective positions as ‘Superstars’. They were immensely proud of each other in a loving way. For instance, on the release of ‘SHAKTI’ Raj Ji sent a huge bouquet of roses to Sahib with a special note that said ‘Long Live The King.’”

Recalling the time when Raj Kapoor suffered a heart attack, Saira Banu shared, “Sahib was abroad to attend a felicitation by the president when Raj Ji suddenly had a cardiac stroke and was admitted to ‘Apollo Hospital’ in Delhi. The very day Dilip Sahib returned to India, took a flight to Delhi, and was rushed to the hospital.”

She added, “He said to Raj Ji, ‘I have just come back from Peshawar and brought back the khushboo of Chapli kebabs to tempt you. We will go together and walk through the bazaar as we used to and enjoy the kebabs and rotis. Raj wake up and stop acting. I know you are a great actor, but you have to take me with you to the courtyard of the house in Peshawar.’ Dilip Sahib’s voice was now choking, and tears were streaming down as he spoke to his dearest friend, lying unconscious on the bed.”

Raj Kapoor died in 1988 in June 1988. He is still remembered as “the greatest showman of Indian cinema”.