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Dev Anand. A star of Hindi cinema whose popularity was not only in India but also abroad.
After graduating from Lahore, Dev Anand came to Bombay in 1943 with Rs 30 in his pocket and became a superstar. He died on December 3, 2011.
On the occasion of Dev Anand's 101st birthday, let's take a look at some interesting anecdotes related to him…
Story 1: When fans started breaking their teeth to have a smile like Dev Anand
When Dev Anand came to Bombay from Lahore in 1943, initially he had to work as a clerk. After this, he worked in the British government office reading the letters of soldiers, but he did not like it and decided to become an actor. One day he met film producer Baburao. Baburao was impressed by Dev Anand's height, gait and gestures and gave him a role in the 1946 film 'Hum Ek Hain'.
About this, Dev Anand wrote in his book 'Romancing with Life' – 'During the shooting of the film, I was told that there was a gap between my teeth for which fillers would have to be given. I did not refuse and the filler was filled, but I found it awkward. I requested the makers of the film to remove the filler and they removed it. I was happy that the public liked me the way I was in the films.'
After hits like 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' and 'Johnny Mera Naam', Dev Anand became so famous that boys started getting their teeth broken to have a shape like his.
Story 2: When in the east of Indonesia The President watched the shooting
Former Indonesian President Sukarno was also a fan of Dev Anand. Dev Anand shared an anecdote related to this in his book Romancing with Life. He said, former Indonesian President Sukarno had come to watch the shooting of the film 'Kala Paani'.
That day we were shooting for the song 'Bekhudi Mein Tumko Pukare Chale Gaye'. We were told in advance that he would come on the set. We waited for him for two hours, but he did not come so we shot the song. As soon as the shooting was over, the President arrived. We shot again for him. He clapped a lot during the shooting.
Dev Anand with Jawaharlal Nehru.
Story 3: When Jawaharlal Nehru laughed after listening to Dev Anand
This incident is from 1947 when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited Dev Anand for dinner. During this time, Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar were also present with Dev Anand. All three were very close friends in real life.
Dev Anand has shared the story of this meeting in his book Romancing with Life and has written, when we went to meet him (Nehru), he hugged all three of us. He was ill, but still met us very warmly. Raj Kapoor asked him, 'Panditji, we have heard that wherever you went, women used to run after you.
Nehru said, I am not as popular as you people. Then I asked him, your smile impressed Lady Mountbatten. Is this true?
Nehru laughed loudly and said, I enjoy hearing these stories about myself.
Then Dilip Kumar said, but Lady Mountbatten herself said that you were her weakness. Nehru laughed loudly again and said, people want me to believe these stories.
For 'Guide', Dev Anand got the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and Waheeda Rehman got the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
Anecdote 4: When I made 'Guide', people called me crazy
The film 'Guide' released in 1965 was one of the biggest films of Dev Anand's career. This film was quite bold for that time in which extramarital affair was shown. This is the reason why when Dev Anand was making this film, some people in the film industry questioned him. Dev Anand himself told this in an interview.
He said, when we made Guide which was on adultery, people told me that he has gone mad. Dev is ruining himself, his stardom will end. According to reports, when the film was made and Dev Anand held a special premiere show for the film industry, many celebs came to see the film, but they did not say a word after the show. When the film was released, it slowly started getting positive reviews and the audience started flocking to the theatres to watch the film. It is still considered a classic film.
Story 5: When the robber knocked on the door of Dev Anand's room
It was 1957 when Dev Anand was shooting for the film 'Nau Do Gyarah'. The shooting was going on in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh. In those days, dacoits were prevalent in that area. After the shooting was wrapped up, the entire team including Dev Anand stayed in a guest house. At midnight, someone knocked on the door of Dev Anand's room.
He asked from inside- who is it? A voice came- I am Amar Singh. Dev Anand opened the door fearfully and a dacoit with big moustaches was standing in front of him. Before Dev Anand could say anything, the dacoit took out the actor's photo and said- please sign on it. Hearing this, Dev Anand felt relieved. He quickly autographed his photo, seeing which the dacoit said- Dev sahab, if you ever need anything, remember us.
Zeenat Aman and Dev Anand in the film Hare Rama Hare Krishna.
Story 6: Zeenat Aman offered a cigarette and Dev Anand asked – Will you become a heroine?
Dev Anand along with his elder brother Chetan Anand launched their banner Navketan in 1949. One of the most successful films made under this banner was the 1971 film 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' in which Zeenat Aman was seen in the role of Dev Anand's sister. There is an interesting story behind the casting of Zeenat in the film. Actually, in those days, no actress wanted to play the role of Dev Anand's sister. Dev Anand was also tired of searching for such a face. Then in a party, his eyes fell on Zeenat Aman, who had won the title of Miss Asia. Zeenat was sitting in front of Dev Anand.
Dev Anand saw the image of the main lead actress of his film in Zeenat. Dev Anand saw that Zeenat took out a cigarette packet and lighter from her pocket. Then she pressed the cigarette between her lips and lit it with the lighter. When Zeenat saw Dev Anand looking at her, she gave a sweet smile and offered a cigarette to Dev Anand too. Dev Anand could not refuse. Then Dev Anand asked her if she would work in films? Zeenat blew cigarette smoke on Dev Anand's face and kept looking at him. Dev Anand asked the next question, can I call you for a screen test?
Zeenat asked, when?
Dev Anand said come tomorrow. Whatever time you find right. Zeenat reached for the screen test the next day and thus she got her debut film.
The song 'Dum Maro Dum' filmed on Zeenat Aman and sung by Asha Bhosle in the film became very popular and Zeenat became a big star.
Story 7: When he planned to marry Suraiya on the pretext of a scene
Dev Anand and Suraiya's incomplete love story was much talked about in the film industry. Both loved each other immensely, but Suraiya's grandmother was against this relationship due to their different religions, due to which the two could not get married.
There is an interesting story related to the film 'Jeet'. In one scene of this film, the wedding scene of Dev Anand and Suraiya was to be filmed. Troubled by the strictness of Suraiya's family, Dev and Suraiya decided that in this scene they will call a real Pandit, real mantras will be recited and these two will actually get married.
All the arrangements were done on the set. The real pandit had also arrived, but then an assistant director informed this news to Suraiya's grandmother. Then there was a ruckus on the set and the grandmother forcibly dragged Suraiya away from there and took her home.
After this, Suraiya's grandmother decided to get her married as soon as possible, but even after many attempts, Suraiya did not marry anyone else. Dev Anand married actress Kalpana Kartik in 1954 and settled down.
Story 8: When Dev Anand said on Guru Dutt's death – Get up Guru, where have you gone
Dev Anand and Guru Dutt were close friends, but in 1960 there was a sudden rift between their friendship. When many of Dev Anand's films were flopping, he approached Guru Dutt to make his next film successful through his direction.
But Guru Dutt refused to do so and asked to hire another director. This hurt Dev Anand a lot and he vowed never to ask Guru Dutt for help again.
Actually, in 1959, Guru Dutt's film 'Kagaz Ke Phool' flopped and Guru Dutt was completely broke. He started drinking heavily. On the other hand, Dev Anand kept himself composed and kept trying despite the failure of his films. He became a star again after the success of 'Kala Bazaar' (1960), 'Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai' (1961) and 'Hum Dono' (1962).
Guru Dutt and Dev Anand.
Guru Dutt realised his mistake and suggested director D.D. Kashyap to cast Dev Anand as the hero in his film 'Maya'.
Guru Dutt then met Dev Anand and suggested making a film with him and Waheeda Rehman. Dev Anand happily agreed to make the film on his suggestion, but four days later on October 10, 1964, Guru Dutt committed suicide by consuming sleeping pills. Guru Dutt's last words were, I am very tired. I want to sleep a little.
Dev Anand was saddened to hear the news of Guru Dutt's suicide. He cancelled the shooting of 'Teen Deviyan'. Dev Anand was crying after seeing Guru Dutt's dead body. He was holding Guru Dutt's hand and repeatedly saying only this – Guru, get up, where have you gone.
Said goodbye to the world at the age of 88
Dev Anand died of a heart attack on 3 December 2011 in London at the age of 88. Two months after his death, his last film Chargesheet was released, which he directed and produced.
