Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu's unmissable pics

Quite contrary to the modern age fragile relationships, Bollywood's evergreen actors Dilip Kumar-Saira Banu fell in love in the golden age.

Dilip and Saira are not only one of the most loved superstar couples of Hindi cinema, but also amongst the few legendary artists India has ever seen. Their filmography, which spans over a staggering 50 years, is full of some classics and utterly dedicated performances.

Although it is truly difficult to pick few films from their illustrious careers, 'Mughal-E-Azam', 'Devdas', 'Padosan' and 'Purab Aur Paschim' became the most talked about films of all times.

As the power couple celebrate their love each day, we take a walk down the memory lane with their candid pics:

Yes, Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu's romance is an evergreen one and meant to be as it is in the movies. Believe it or not but their's is a love story that blossomed despite a 22 year age gap and is still going strong. They got married in the year 1966 when Saira was only 22 and the 'King of Tragedy' Dilip Kumar was 44. Many detractors of the couple felt that this relationship would soon fall apart. They believed that the age gap between the couple would not make their marriage a success. But, for more than four decades, the couple proved their invincible love for each other despite going through troubled times.

When the actor was introduced to Saira Banu, he apparently considered her to be “too young” to be paired opposite him in the movie. Saira had even confessed that she was in love with Dilip's on-screen image since the age of 12. Their fairytale romance culminated with marriage. After tying the knot, Saira Banu continued with her film career and climbed the steps of success quickly though becoming quite selective in her film choices. By 1976, she stopped taking roles on-screen and adapted herself to being a homemaker.

Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu's relationship makes for perfect relationship goals. He apparently fell in love with Saira at her birthday party. A report quoted Dilip Kumar, "When I alighted from my car and entered the beautiful garden that leads to the house, I can still recall my eyes falling on Saira standing in the foyer of her new house looking breathtakingly beautiful in a brocade saree. I was taken aback because she was no longer the young girl I consciously avoided working with because I thought she would look too young to be my heroine." The report further quoted Dilip Kumar's romantic proposal, "Saira, you are not the kind of girl I want to drive around with, or be seen around with... I would like to marry you... Will you be my wife?"

Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu have been an inseparable couple. However, the duo could not start a family together. Dilip spoke in an interview with Bombay Times stating that he loves kids, but there's no time for it. "I love children, but where's the time to think about it? We have about 30 children from Saira's family and my own, and they are enough to keep me occupied with their mischief. They are so full of energy that I get tired trying to cope with them."

When the first premiere of Dilip Kumar’s super hit tragic romance 'Mughal-e-Azam' took place at Mumbai’s famous Maratha Mandir movie hall in 1960, Saira Banu, then only 16, had gone for the show, hoping to get a glimpse of her favourite hero in person. But she was heartbroken as Dilip Kumar was unable to come to the premiere. It was only when he met her at her birthday party that cupid struck.

When Saira got the first glimpse of the superstar in person, she remembers that met fondly. Reminiscing that first encounter, she said in an interview, “When he smiled at me and remarked that I was a pretty girl, I could feel my whole being taking wing and flying rapturously. I knew somewhere deep within me that I was going to be his wife.”

Saira Banu has always been by Dilip Kumar's side, be it events or parties. The doting wife had written a very interesting foreword for Dilip Kumar's biography. She has mentioned how the actor used to imitate Helen. Apparently, Dilip's humorous side was revealed by his wife who stated that he used to do Helen's cabaret number - Monica, O My Darling.

The Indian film industry and Bollywood, in particular, has seen the rise and fall of many superstars and legends. There have been those who have changed cinema forever and others who have given a whole new dimension to the word 'actor'. But the love saga of Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu remains legendary in itself that not only stood the test of time but has also given major relationship goals for generations to come.