Overview
- On the film’s 64th anniversary, Saira Banu shared first-person recollections through Instagram posts and interviews.
- She recalled freezing before thousands of onlookers during a Kashmir shoot at Nishat and Shalimar gardens, with her mother Naseem Banu rushing to comfort her.
- Banu said Shammi Kapoor’s teasing rebuke jolted her out of panic and sparked the determination that carried her through the day’s filming.
- She recounted taking on a water-skiing shot at Nigeen Lake herself when a double did not arrive, crediting Kapoor’s confidence for giving her courage.
- Looking back, she noted earlier offers from major studios and filmmakers but credited Junglee, produced by the Mukherjee family, as the project that launched her path and earned her lasting gratitude.