The Hindu : National : Evergreen hero turns 82

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005

National

National

Evergreen hero turns 82

— Photo: PTI

FOREVER YOUNG: Bollywood legend Dev Anand at the Gateway of India in Mumbai on his 82nd birthday on Monday on the set of his new film `Mr. Prime Minister.'

MUMBAI: Seldom has it happened that an actor's life can be represented by a song from one of hisfilms, but for Dev Anand, who turned 82 on Monday, the song `Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya' from the film Hum Dono epitomises the principle of his exemplary life.

The evergreen producer-director, who has produced blockbusters such as Guide and Hare Rama Hare Krishna under his banner `Navketan', celebrated his birthday on the sets of his latest home production, Mr. Prime Minister, at the Gateway of India. He was filming a rap song, which he had written and sung himself. `Dev Saab,' as he is fondly called, never showed signs of fatigue during the shoot which started in the morning and continued through the scorching afternoon heat. He did not disappoint his fans and accepted their greetings with his charismatic smile.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Dev Anand said that he planned to complete the shooting by December. "This film is a very ambitious project for me. It is a satire on the present-day political system and is not intended to target any individual."

Mr. Dev Anand said he was also planning a film called Beauty Queen. The idea that he could make a film on the political system had struck him when he was reading the newspaper. "I then began writing the story of Mr. Prime Minister. I have not shelved Beauty Queen but only postponed it for a while."

Referring to his life's passion, he said, "Box office considerations do not matter to me. I make a film on a subject which is true to my belief and opinion. Life goes on regardless of box office successes or failures." Born on September 26, 1923, in Punjab's Gurdaspur as Devdutt Pishorimal Anand, Mr. Dev Anand graduated in arts from the Punjab University and came to Mumbai to join elder brother Chetan Anand who was already into films.

Mr. Dev Anand's maiden film, Ziddi, in 1948 at the Bombay Talkies brought him success, and the following year he turned producer and launched Navketan.

Navketan's first offering was Afsar in 1950, followed by Taxi Driver, CID, Kala Pani, Guide and Jewel Thief among others. Mr. Dev Anand has received several awards, including the Dada Saheb Phalke award and the Padma Bhushan. — PTI, UNI, ANI