Saira Banu weeps while receiving award on Dilip Kumar's behalf, says late actor should be honoured with Bharat Ratna

Veteran actress Saira Banu gets emotional as she received Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award on behalf of legendary actor and husband Dilip Kumar. The actress said that her late husband should be honoured with the highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna as he is the ‘kohinoor’ of the country.

Dilip Kumar died on July 7, 2021, at the age of 98, due to prolonged illness. The late actor was honoured with Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award on Tuesday and the veteran actress went on to the stage to accept the award. A video of the actress breaking down on stage while receiving a bouquet from Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale left netizens heartbroken. Have a look:

Also read: Dilip Kumar's Twitter account to be closed confirms family friend Faisal Farooqui  

While receiving the award, Saira was wiping her tears. "This is the reason I don't attend any functions because I feel terrible, but what do I do," she said. "I feel he is still here, watching everything, being with me. He is not in my memories. He is with me at every step. I'll be able to spend my life believing he is with me. I won't even think that he isn't, so that it's easier for me to believe he is with me and shall always be my support, 'mera kohinoor'," she later told reporters.

At the award event, Athawale said he would make a request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider honouring Dilip Saab with Bharat Ratna. When asked about the same, Saira Banu told reporters, “Dilip Sahab has been the ‘Kohinoor’ for Hindustan. So ‘Kohinoor’ should definitely receive a Bharat Ratna.”

Meanwhile, Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu have been the most-loved couple of the golden era of the Hindi cinema. The two tied the knot in 1966. The couple acted together in several films including Gopi and Sagina among others.