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Saira Banu recalls Manoj Kumar’s heartfelt pledge to her, says he once mimicked Dilip Kumar: ‘If Sahib didn’t permit me to work in Purab Aur Paschim…’ – The Times of India

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Saira Banu recalls Manoj Kumar’s heartfelt pledge to her, says he once mimicked Dilip Kumar: ‘If Sahib didn’t permit me to work in Purab Aur Paschim…’ – The Times of India


Saira Banu shared a heartfelt tribute to Manoj Kumar, recalling their work on Purab Aur Paschim. She highlighted his thoughtful nature and loyalty, noting he would have shelved the film rather than replace her. Kumar’s passing at 87 has prompted widespread tributes from Bollywood.

Legendary actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar passed away on April 4 at the age of 87. His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from numerous Bollywood celebrities. Now, actress Saira Banu, the wife of the late legendary actor Dilip Kumar, has shared a touching tribute on Instagram, featuring a slideshow of previously unseen photos of Manoj Kumar. In her post, she recalled working on the 1970 film ‘Purab Aur Paschim‘ and cherished the strong connection she had with the late actor.
In her caption, Banu fondly recalled her early days in cinema, noting, “Soon after my very first film, I began receiving numerous offers. Among them was Shaadi, a film that holds a special place in my heart. It was here that I was paired opposite Manoj ji for the very first time.”
Early Days in Cinema
The actress shared that she was a shy and reserved young actress who often felt awkward on set, particularly during romantic scenes. However, she fondly remembered that Manoj Kumar, with his thoughtful and gracious nature, would discreetly leave the set during her solo shots to help her feel more at ease.
She wrote, “I was such a shy and reserved young girl back then, and I had this peculiar habit of being extremely awkward on set, especially during romantic scenes. But Manoj ji, with his quiet understanding and immense grace, would simply walk away from the set whenever my solo shots were being filmed just so I could feel at ease. We were both people of few words, but there was a quiet comfort in our working relationship that required no explanation.”
A Beautiful Bond
She further continued, “Manoj ji had the deepest admiration for our Sahib. The bond they shared was beautiful cooking together, trying out new versions of omelettes, flying kites, and engaging in sher-o-shayari for hours.”
“There is a most endearing memory I often recall with great affection during the making of Aadmi, Manoj ji, quite unknowingly, began imitating Sahib’s mannerisms. Sahib, with a twinkle in his eye, gently said to him, “Yaar tu meri tarah shots kar le, main kuch aur tareeka nikaalta hoon!” Oh, how we all laughed it was a moment filled with such warmth and camaraderie”, she added.
A Heartfelt Gesture
Banu reminisced about the time she and her husband, Dilip Kumar, mutually decided that she would step away from her film career after their marriage. However, she had already committed to ‘Purab Aur Paschim’ before tying the knot. She revealed that Manoj Kumar was prepared to shelve the project if she chose not to continue with the film.
She recalled, “Sahib and I had mutually decided that I would not continue my film career after our marriage. But prior to our wedding, I had already signed Purab Aur Paschim, in which I was to play a Westernised girl opposite Manoj ji. When the subject came up, Manoj ji was clear and resolute he said he would shelve the project altogether if Sahib didn’t permit me to work in it. And later, during the course of filming, when I fell seriously unwell, Sahib himself told Manoj ji that we would completely understand if he had to replace me.”
The actress further noted, “But Manoj ji, in a gesture I shall never forget, said softly yet firmly “I would rather shelve the film than cast someone else in Saira’s place.” That rare kind of loyalty, respect, and affection how does one even begin to thank someone for that?”
A Cinematic Success
‘Purab Aur Paschim’ achieved significant success at the domestic box office, ranking as the fourth highest-grossing film of 1970. The movie features Manoj Kumar, Saira Banu, Pran, Vinod Khanna, Ashok Kumar, and Prem Chopra.





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Deepika Padukone once recalled being locked in the store room by dad Prakash Padukone when she misbehaved: ‘He would switch the light’ | – The Times of India

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Deepika Padukone once recalled being locked in the store room by dad Prakash Padukone when she misbehaved: ‘He would switch the light’ | – The Times of India


Deepika Padukone, currently enjoying motherhood, recently reminisced about her childhood on The Kapil Sharma Show. She shared a story about her father, Prakash Padukone’s, strict parenting style, which involved a dark store room punishment for misbehavior. Balancing motherhood and career, Deepika was last seen in Singham Again and Kalki 2898 AD, and is expected to appear in Tiger Vs Pathaan.

Deepika Padukone, who is currently on a break from the spotlight after embracing motherhood, recently made headlines as an old video of her from The Kapil Sharma Show went viral. In the video, the actress opened up about her childhood and shared a funny yet strict parenting moment from her father, badminton legend Prakash Padukone.
A Strict but Loving Childhood Memory
While speaking with Kapil Sharma, Deepika Padukone recalled how her father, Prakash Padukone, would handle her childhood mischief. She shared that in their old apartment, misbehaving or skipping homework would lead to a strict punishment—being locked inside a dark store room, with the light switch placed outside, completely under her father’s control.Embracing Motherhood
Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh welcomed their daughter, Dua, in September last year. Since becoming a mother, Deepika has mentioned in various interviews that parenthood will likely influence her choice of roles. She also shared that she’s learning to strike a balance between spending time with her daughter and managing her work commitments.

Relatable New Mom Moments
At the Forbes Summit in Abu Dhabi this March, Deepika Padukone opened up about her journey as a new mom. She shared how, like many first-time mothers, she often turns to Google with parenting questions. During the event, she also reflected on advice from her father, who reminded her that above all achievements, people remember you for the kind of person you are—a thought that deeply influences how she approaches both life and career.
On the work front, Deepika Padukone was last seen in Singham Again and the sci-fi epic Kalki 2989 AD. As she eases into her new role as a mother, the actress is expected to return to the big screen with the much-anticipated action film Tiger Vs Pathaan.





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Tahira Kashyap shares life update after breast cancer relapse; returns to writing new script – See post | Hindi Movie News – The Times of India

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Tahira Kashyap shares life update after breast cancer relapse; returns to writing new script – See post | Hindi Movie News – The Times of India


Tahira Kashyap, the filmmaker, recently announced that her breast cancer has returned after seven years. On Thursday, she posted a personal update on Instagram, revealing that she is now dedicating her time to working on a new script.
A Heartfelt Selfie and Inspiring Note
She shared a selfie where her laptop screen partially covered her face. Displayed on the screen was a note she had penned, stating, “INTERVAL – INT/EXT DAY UNIVERSE… After a brief interim this woman in question holds her laptop to write another script one more time. With gratitude in her heart, prayer on her lips and a smile beaming through her eyes she mumbles – ME.”
The note also read, “Thank you universe, thank you God for all the challenges and all the blessings. Had it not been for these obstacles I wouldn’t have acknowledged your love. Thank you for giving me another opportunity to become a better version of myself. And so here’s Tahira 3.0 version! Back to the grind, back to the hustle, back to life and so glad to be back at work! Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost (The picture is still left). To be continued…” “Life update,” she captioned the post.
Support from Celebrities and Friends
Several celebrities, including Ayushmann Khurrana, Dia Mirza, Bhumi Pednekar, Saiyami Kher, Divya Dutta, Sonali Bendre, and Guneet Monga, showed their support by responding to the post with heart emojis.
Earlier Announcement of Relapse
Earlier this month, Tahira Kashyap announced that her breast cancer had returned for the second time. On Instagram, she posted, “Seven year itch or the power of regular screening- it’s a perspective, I had like to go with the latter and suggest the same for everyone who needs to get regular mammograms. Round 2 for me…I still got this.”
Personal and Family Background
In 2018, Tahira was diagnosed with breast cancer and openly documented many aspects of her treatment experience. She is married to actor Ayushmann Khurrana, and together they have two children—a son and a daughter.





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Pahalgam terror attack: Six in 10 families cancel travel plans to Kashmir, finds survey

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Pahalgam terror attack: Six in 10 families cancel travel plans to Kashmir, finds survey


Shikara owners at Dal Lake in Srinagar protest against the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, southern Kashmir.
| Photo Credit: IMRAN NISSAR

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, has cast a shadow over Kashmir’s booming tourism industry. A new nationwide survey reveals that six out of 10 families with travel plans to the valley this year have decided to cancel their bookings following the attack.

The survey respondents represented a cross-section of urban and rural India: 41% were from Tier-1 cities, 28% from Tier-2 towns, and 31% from smaller districts and rural areas. Around 63% of the participants were men, while 37% were women.

Pahalgam terror attack updates April 24, 2025

62% of 6,807 respondents decided to cancel their vacations

The survey conducted by community social media platform LocalCircles among over 21,000 citizens across 361 districts across India, paints a grim picture. Among 6,807 respondents who had planned trips to Kashmir between May and December this year, 62% have already decided to cancel their vacations. Only 38% said they would go ahead with their travel plans, the survey revealed.

Looking beyond 2025, the survey asked 14,430 participants about the likelihood of visiting Kashmir within the next three years. Just 29% said they were still open to visiting, while another 33% said their decision would depend on how effectively the government addresses safety concerns. About 21% categorically ruled out a trip, and 9% said Kashmir was never on their travel list.

The travel industry fears not just an immediate slump, but a long-term dip in travel confidence. While some stakeholders hope government intervention might cushion the blow, especially concerning religious tourism, anxiety remains high.

This disruption comes at a time when Jammu and Kashmir was experiencing an unprecedented tourism boom. According to the State’s Economic Survey for 2024-25, the region recorded a historic high of 2.36 crore visitors in 2024. Among them were 65,452 international tourists, 5.12 lakh pilgrims who participated in the Amarnath Yatra, and 94.56 lakh devotees who visited the Vaishno Devi temple.



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