Saira Banu wants Dilip Kumar to act again

Mumbai: He was the original Devdas, with brooding eyes and a perpetual grouse with the world, but today's generation of actors have hardly seen him at work. So now, wife Saira Banu hopes to bring back husband Dilip Kumar back to acting under her production banner.

"Yes, I hope to bring back Dilip sahib once I prove my capability as a producer. There were one or two scripts that we had revived including Satya Master. If he agrees, I would like to produce that film," Saira Banu said.

"Why not, it would be a good thing," Dilip Kumar said when informed of his wife's plans.

The thespian's last film was Qila in 1998.

Saira also came out strongly against the recent trend of remakes of old films, saying she had even tried to convince filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali not to remake Devdas.

"I am totally against remakes of old films. How can you hope to replace the original actor, his performance in a remake? I have seen the new Devdas and although it has great production value and grandeur, it does not have the soul that the original had," Saira said.

Speaking about her directorial ambitions, she said, "I would love to direct, ideally a light, romantic ambition, but directing and even acting is a full time job. You have to be

there all times. My priorities have changed. I prefer to look after my home and family. Production can take a lot of my time."

The duo have also followed the trend of Bollywood stars foraying into the burgeoning Bhojpuri film industry by coming out with their maiden Bhojpuri production, which is set to hit theatres next month.

"When people ask me why Bhojpuri, I ask them why not. It is a beautiful language, has a very earthy feel to it and I have been very influenced by it ever since I saw Ganga Jamuna. I would like to produce more Bhojpuri films," she added.

Dilip Kumar also seconded his wife's opinion and said, "Bhojpuri films are coming up and many of the stars are making a lot of money."

Their debut production venture Ab To Ban Ja Sajanva Hamaar, featuring Bhojpuri stars Nagma and Ravi Kishen, will release on October 27.