Dev Anand (88) Dies of Cardiac Arrest in London

Dev Anand, the versatile veteran actor and one of the greatest romantic heroes of Indian Cinema,  suffered a cardiac arrest and  breathed his last in London on Saturday night. He had been to London for medical check up.

Dharam Dev Anand was born on 26th September 1923 in Shakargarh, Gurdaspur District of undivided India.

Dev Anand

His father is Pishore Lal Anand, an affluent lawyer. Dev Anand is the second of three brothers. His brothers Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand were also in Hindi Cinema. The famous film director Shekhar Kapur is the son of  Dev Anand’s sister Sheel Kanta Kapur.

Dev Anand entered films in 1946 with the film “Hum Ek Hain”. He acquired the status of a super star by 1948 with the success of his film “Ziddi”. Ashok Kumar picked him up for the film starring Kamini Kaushal as the female lead and the film became a roaring success.

Guide, Tere Ghar Ke Samne, Jewel Thief, Tere Mere Sapne, Paying Guest, Baazi, Jewel Thief, CID,  Warrant, Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai, Johny Mera Naam, Amir Garib, Hare Rama Hare Krishna and Des Pardes are just a handful of his innumerable hits. Hare Rama Hare Krishna itself became a cult film of sorts.

He entered film production with the setting up of Navketan International Films in 1949 which has produced 31 films.

He produced 31 films, directed 7, and was the story-writer for 13 of them. He directed 19 films in all.

Zeenat Aman, the sensational heroine of “Hare Rama Hare Krishna”, is his discovery.

He discovered Tina Munim – now Tina Ambani – when he cast her in his film Des Pardesh. He played the lead role, at the age of 55, with the 20-year old Tina Munim; the film earned him the tag “evergreen romantic super hero”.

Deva Anand was awarded the “Padma Bhushan” in 2001 and the “Dada Saheb Phalke Award” in 2002 for his monumental  contribution  to Indian Cinema.

He received the very famous Filmfare Awards twice in his illustrious career:  first in 1958 for his role in the film “Kala Paani”, and again in 1966 for his role in “Guide”, a film which simply refuses to go from the minds of his zillion fans. That “Guide” had won the Filmfare Awards  in five more categories – including “Best Film” – should give a hint of the stupendous film that it is.

In addition to these Filmfare Awards for “Best Actor”, he was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.

Dev Anand was awarded the Screen Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.

Prior to his demise, he was busy with a film called the “Song of Life” which was going to be shot entirely in the US, mostly with American stars, and in which he had the main role.

Dev Anand’s famous romance with Suraiya – who was already a well-established actor – was thwarted by Suraiya’s mother on account of the difference in religious backgrounds, and Suraiya chose to remain unmarried.

Dev Anand’s autobiography “Romancing with Life” was released in September 2007.

Sunil Anand, son of Dev Anand, was with him when the unforgettable actor with irrepressible zeal passed away.

Romance will never be the same again.

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