Dev Anand's tryst with city

Sau saal pehale, muje thumse pyaar tha, aaj bhi hai kal bhi rahega…that’s vintage Dev Anand in the film Jab Pyaar Kisi se hotha hai.

The Gregory Peck of Bollywood, had a brief stint in the city when he was conferred the first Akkineni Award for his contribution to the film industry and was here on January 14 and 15 to receive the coveted recognition.

Dev Anand, the romantic hero who has become the style icon and held his sway over five to six generations, was still at the best stanza of his fashion statement when he came to the Jubilee Hall during the Pongal of 2006.

State Governor Sushil Kumar Shinde, Chief Minsiter, Dr. YS Rajsekhar Reddy, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and host of luminaries from the film and political fraternity graced the occasion and Dev Anand was as effervescent as he was in the days Bazi, Teen Devian.

Dev Anand added glitter to the function with his unique gestures of shaking his head, and stretching his arms with a shawl on and audience, particularly Pramod Mahajan, was so much carried away by air of romance, and said, “when Dev sahib was a top hero, even my father didn’t meet my mother. What can I say about such a stylish star?” 

In his acceptance speech, Dev Anand, second of three illustrious brothers (Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand being the other two),  praised ANR for his efforts and contribution to the film industry.

After the function, Dev Anand visited Annapurna Studios the next day and had a chat with reporters and shared some of his life’s intimate moments.

Coming to Bombay from Lahore with Rs. 30 in his pocket in 1943, he struggled for two years and made his way through his strong will power and clarity in his goals.

He broke many a tradition and became a path-breaker in Bollywood as wore black, a colour which was shunned by the industry, in the film Kalapani and since then that has become a rage and girls were giggling with joy whenever they saw him in black.  Even today it is.

The Jewel Thief, who was wearing a cap at the press meet, said that it was an extension of himself eversince he appeared with it first in the film Baazi. The bond was so strong that he has dedicated one full chapter for the cap in the book he his writing, (read memoirs).

However, he skirted the questions with his butter like mannerisms when asked about Madhu Bala and Guru Dutt saying that they were good artistes and the like.

His last film Chargesheet was released in September this year. The 88 year old died of a cardiac arrest last night in London.

Starting from his Hum Ek Hain in 1946 to Chargesheet in 2011, the Jewel Thief had hummed Pyar ka raag suno and the Guide had shown the way for romanticism.