Indian film industry honours Dev Anand at the Dev Anand@100 – Forever Young Film Festival

On Tuesday, the 100th anniversary of his birth, Dev Anand, the iconic star and filmmaker who spanned seven decades, was commemorated and revered for his distinctive characteristics. These included his carefree, relaxed gait, boundless vitality, musical talents, distinctive mannerisms, and, naturally, his unique style.

As fans embarked on a journey down memory lane, reminiscing about his movies from CID to Heera Panna, those within the industry paid homage to the man. Dev Anand’s enduring passion for filmmaking led him to continue creating movies even in his later years, even when they didn’t achieve significant success.

The sophisticated and charming actor, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 88, was frequently likened to Hollywood legend Gregory Peck and is still remembered as the perennially youthful hero.

His brothers also achieved significant success. Chetan Anand was the creative force behind the critically acclaimed Neecha Nagar, while Vijay Anand directed him in memorable films like Guide, Johny Mera Naam and Jewel Thief.

As a director and producer under his family banner, Navketan Films, Dev Anand is celebrated for his diverse selection of projects throughout his career, his unique and unmatched style, and his boundless enthusiasm for life.

Waheeda Rehman, his co-star in timeless classics like CID and Guide, fondly recalled her introduction to Dev Anand on the set of CID, the 1956 film that marked her debut in Hindi cinema.

In a report by a leading news portal, at the opening of Dev Anand@100 – Forever Young film festival, Waheeda Rehman said, “I feel very lucky that I did my first film ‘CID’ with Dev sahab. When we were introduced, I called him ‘Dev sahab’, he said ‘Waheeda, you won’t call me Dev sahab’. I said ‘I’m not that ill-mannered, you are elder to me and such a big star. This is my first film. How can I not call you Dev sahab?’ He said, ‘I don’t feel comfortable when someone calls me ‘sahab’, I feel like a school teacher. So, just call me Dev’.”

Zeenat Aman who became an overnight star after starring in Hare Rama Hare Krishna, paid tribute to the late actor, and director in an Instagram post she wrote, “Celebrating 100 years of Dev saab. Stylish, suave and prolific, he was a dynamo beyond compare. And what generosity of talent! He sparked careers (mine included), brought together creative heads, and made films that resonated across generations.

“It gladdens my heart to see his legacy honoured an entire century since his birth. In recent days, I’ve been overwhelmed with requests for comments about him but there is little to add to what I’ve already said.”

Jackie Shroff had an uncredited small appearance in the 1982 film Swami Dada which was both directed and acted by Dev Anand. 

In an interview with a leading news portal, Jackie said, “My first meeting with him was magical… I feel blessed… Everyone calls him Dev sahab. For me, he is Dev. He is like my God. He is the man who got me into the industry. He gave me a role in his film… I loved his energy. He was a very energetic person. He would often say, ‘Look forward, whatever has happened has happened’. He never looked back in life. His style was iconic, there was no one like him.”

Rati Agnihotri, who collaborated with Dev Anand in Swami Dada, fondly recalled the “positivity” that the late actor-director radiated on film sets. She mentioned that Dev Anand’s presence was so inspiring that both she and her co-star Mithun Chakraborty would always be on their toes while working with him.

She recalled, “Whenever he would explain the film or my role in it, there was so much energy in the way he narrated it or explained a particular scene to us. It was a fabulous, one-time experience to work with a legend like Dev sahab. Working with him in ‘Swami Dada’ was an absolute honour, I think I was blessed.”

See Also: 100th Birth Anniversary Special: Here’s a look back at Dev Anand’s rare and unseen pics