Saira Banu confesses that husband Dilip Kumar is her ‘greatest gift’. No wonder she says that his birthday every December 11 only makes her more thankful to God. 

The thespian’s 85th birthday yesterday, however, was celebrated in the green environs of Lodhi Estate, Delhi. “We had come here for some business work and had to stay on. Mumbai doesn’t give us the chance to bring out our woollens. So Sahab is enjoying wearing his shawl. The garden is just a step away and he loves strolling here in the pleasant weather,” says Saira over the phone adding, “It’s a quiet birthday with my brother, nephew and the family.”

Incidentally, Delhi has a special connect for Saira - her grandfather, the late Mohammed Sulaiman Quddusi, was one of the chief engineers responsible in building the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Back home in Mumbai, Dilip’s birthday always has a stream of visitors — from industrialists to filmstars, tailors and mechanics. “It’s an open house. Saab is a Pathan from Peshawar. There’ a spread for all those who come. Our rabtah (bond) with all is warm-hearted; our punji is the goodwill that we’ve earned through the years.”

Not wishing to divulge what she would be gifting her husband, Saira nevertheless shares, “He’s beyond materialistic things. He’s a man of Sufi tastes. Whether I gift him a Cartier pen or cuff-links, I end up looking after them. He is someone who neither remembers his birthday nor our anniversary. But when the flowers start coming in, his eyes light up like a child’s. And he’ll not care for a Mercedes in comparison to a good meal. Give him a good pulav or a biryani anyday!”

Revealing her offbeat birthday plan, Saira adds, “We are going to venture out to a book store. He loves biographies and books on the North West Frontier. He also enjoys putting on his headphones and listening to music.”

Saira credits Dilip’s agility to his interest in sports. “He’s always been a sportsperson. Even when he went for his outdoor shoots, he’d first create a badminton court.” The besotted wife ends, “He’s multi-faceted like a Kohinoor. I hope to pen my book ‘My Life with Yusuf’ some day!”