Known as the original romantic hero with ‘Gregory Peck’ inspired puffed hairstyle, Dev Anand ruled the Indian film industry in the 50s and 60s along with Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor – popularly known as the super star trio. (Photo illustration: Shrikrishna Patkar/HT)
Dev Anand, the evergreen hero of Bollywood, lived life to the fullest. And those closest to Anand, 88, who died of a cardiac arrest in his London home late evening on Saturday, say he celebrated life to the end.
As news of his death became public, tributes from friends and former
colleagues began pouring in. “An era has come to an end .. Dev Anand leaves a void never perhaps to be filled again .. his never give up belief, his joy of life,” wrote actor Amitabh Bachchan on Twitter.
Anand, who began his Bollywood journey with the film Hum Ek Hain in 1946, went to become one of India’s leading actors, a director, producer and even a scriptwriter in the course of over a six-decade long career. “Dev Saab is no more. I cannot believe it,” said actor Dilip Kumar, who worked with Anand in the 1950s. “I was so proud when he beat me to the best actor trophy in 1958 for Kaala Paani,” Kumar added.
“You cannot imagine a man like Dev Anand not living. He was a contemporary of my father, but he actually behaved younger to my son Ranbir,” said actor Rishi Kapoor.
“He was a great friend and a through gentleman and there can never be another Dev Anand. He was one of a kind,” said veteran actor Pran, who first worked with Anand in the film Ziddi (1948).
“He was my inspiration. In the 1970s, four of my films —Aradhana, Saccha Jhoota, Do Raaste And Bandhan —were hits, but the business of his single release, Johnny Mera Naam, around the same time, surpassed all of them,” said actor Rajesh Khanna.
Overwhelmed by the messages, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, Anand’s nephew, said, “On behalf of the family, I thank everyone for the thousands of messages of love pouring in from all over the world on passing of Dev Anand. The family is still coming to terms with his passing.”
Dev Anand (1923-2011)Name: Dharam Dev Anand
Age: 88
Relationships: Dated actor Suraiya in around 1948-52. Married actor Kalpana Karthik in 1954
Debut: Hum Ek Hain (1946). His first big film was Ziddi in 1948
Directorial Debut: Prem Pujari (1970)
Awards: Besides several film awards, he received the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2002