Dev Anand: Happy Birthday To The Evergreen Actor Of Indian Cinema

Of the legends that the Indian film industry has produced, Dev Anand’s name will always be on top of that list. One of the few actors who transcended boundaries across states gained worldwide recognition simply on the basis of their solid work and set the heights of stardom so high that it’s impossible to imagine the kind of popularity and love he received. These days, when the stars find it difficult to keep their fan base, adjust to the ever-changing demands of audiences and keep their head study in limelight, Dev Anand was the star that shone brighter than anyone else.

Beginning and Early Struggle- Born on 26^th September 1923 in Shakargarh, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Dev Anand’s father was a well-respected advocate and he did his education from Dalhousie, Dharamshala, and Lahore. He got a job as a clerk in Mumbai at a meager salary of 85 Rs and then 160 Rs. After struggling for 2 years, he gatecrashed an audition at the Prabhat Film Studios and won over Babu Rao Pai, the man who was impressed by a young Dev Anand’s smile, beautiful eyes, and tremendous confidence. He was signed on for his debut film ‘Hum Ek Hain’ that released in 1946 and there was no looking back for him.

Big Break And Romantic Hero Image- Ashok Kumar gave him his first big break in Ziddi (1948) after he spotted him hanging around Bombay Studios lot and the film was a huge hit. From there on he delivered some of the biggest hits of that time in Guide, Jewel Thief, Baazi, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Jeet, CID, Taxi Driver etc. He also started producing and directing films under his banner ‘Navketan Films’ and also helped launch a number of future Bollywood stars such as Geeta Dutt, Balraj Sahni, Guru Dutt, SD Burman and Geeta Bali etc. He formed hit pairings with almost all of the lead actresses of that time, Surayia (with whom he was romantically involved), Nutan, Waheeda Rehman, Meena Kumari and Hema Malini etc.

Stardom and Appreciation- He was the highest paid star during 1955 to 1965 and the triumvirate of Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, and Dev Anand ruled over the box office. He did a variety of roles and was praised for his powerhouse performances and also shared screen space with his contemporaries. There was a formidable relationship among the three even though the media portrayed them as rivals. His films had some of the best songs ever written and sung in Bollywood, be it Main Zindagi Ka Sath Nibhata Chala Gaya, Gata Rahe Mera Dil, Phoolon Ke Rang se or Ek Ghar Banaunga, Dil Ka bhanwar, these songs are as much popular today as they were then.

Style and Personality- He was widely praised for his dressing style and his flamboyance won him a huge female fan following. There were always reports coming in with fans writing him letters with their blood, jumping over roofs when he’d be passing their streets in his suave black suit or wearing the classic hat and scarf. He was even banned from appearing in public in Black suits for a while! Such was the height of popularity that he defined the term stardom on his own terms.

Legacy- Dev Anand never shied away from taking on bold subjects in films like Guide, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, and Des Pardes. Some films were way ahead of their times yet still struck a chord with the audiences then. One of the most forward-thinking actor/directors who dared and followed his heart, his films are his legacy and whenever the Indian film history is talked about Dev Anand’s name will be taken in the very first breath. 

 Now, every other day we see a new star being launched or someone becoming famous just by ‘viral videos’. These people do have their 15 minutes of fame and simply vanish into the black hole that has devoured numerous ‘stars’. With the huge expansion of the internet and social media boom, the attention span of the audiences regarding their favorite star is shorter and they have a variety of options. At a time when the films would run for years and going to the movies was nothing less than going to a fair and everyone celebrating the numerous re-watches, actors like Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, ar and Raj Kapur helped people escape through their cinema.