Dev Anand (26 September 1923 – 3 December 2011) was an Indian actor, producer, writer and director and one of the biggest stars in the history of Hindi cinema. With Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar he formed the trio that ruled Hindi films in the 1950s and 1960s. Known for his rapid dialogue, puffed hair and jaunty style, he was called the “evergreen” hero and went on making films until he was 88. He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2002.
Quick Facts
| Birth name | Dharam Dev Pishorimal Anand |
| Born | 26 September 1923, Shakargarh, Gurdaspur district, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan) |
| Died | 3 December 2011, London, England (aged 88) |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, director |
| Education | Government College, Lahore (B.A. English) |
| Years active | 1946–2011 |
| Spouse | Kalpana Kartik (m. 1954) |
| Children | 2 (Suneil and Devina) |
| Honours | Padma Bhushan (2001), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2002) |
Early Life
Dev Anand was the third of four sons of Pishori Lal Anand, a lawyer. He took a degree in English literature at Government College, Lahore, and came to Bombay in 1943 with a few rupees in his pocket. He worked as a clerk and in the military censor’s office, reading soldiers’ letters, before getting a film contract. His brothers Chetan and Vijay Anand both became noted directors.
Career
His first film was Hum Ek Hain (1946), and Ziddi (1948) was his first hit. In 1949 he founded Navketan Films with Chetan. Its crime thriller Baazi (1951), directed by his friend Guru Dutt, set the fashion for urban noir films. Hits such as Taxi Driver, C.I.D., Paying Guest and Kala Pani, which won him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor, followed, many with songs sung for him by Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi.
Hum Dono (1961), Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963) and Jewel Thief (1967) were among his successes. Guide (1965), directed by Vijay Anand from R. K. Narayan‘s novel and co-starring Waheeda Rehman, is regarded as his finest film and won him a second Filmfare Best Actor award.
He turned director with Prem Pujari (1970). Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), about the hippie culture in Kathmandu, was a big hit and introduced Zeenat Aman. He continued to write, direct and star in his own films, launching many newcomers, though few of his later films succeeded.
Personal Life
In the late 1940s Dev Anand fell in love with the singer-actress Suraiya; her family opposed the match and they parted. He married his co-star Kalpana Kartik in 1954 during a lunch break on the set of Taxi Driver. He briefly formed a political party in 1977 to oppose the Emergency. He died of a heart attack in London on 3 December 2011. His autobiography is titled Romancing with Life (2007).
Selected Filmography
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Dev Anand born?
Dev Anand was born on 26 September 1923 in Shakargarh, Gurdaspur district, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan).
When did Dev Anand die?
Died: 3 December 2011, London, England (aged 88).
What is Dev Anand’s occupation?
Occupation: Actor, producer, director.
What honours has Dev Anand received?
Padma Bhushan (2001), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2002).
Featured image: Dev Anand addresses a press conference at Kala Academy, Panaji, during the International Film Festival of India, December 2006. Photo by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
