Posted on 05 December 2011

Legendary actor Dev Anand passed away on Saturday night at the age of 88, in London. He was staying at Mayfair Hotel, with his son. He suffered from a heart attack.

Although all of us know his association with Bollywood, very few know that he began his career in Pune in 1946, when he signed for the movie Hum Ek Hain. This movie was made under the banner of Prabhat Film Company, a leading film company in India in those days. The famous Film Television Institute of India (FTII) actually started in the premises of Prabhat Film Company.

When he was working in that film, Dev Anand used to stay at Vasant Villa near Deccan Gymkhana. The wife of late Bapu Watve, Shalini Watve, recalls that although he and her husband worked with Dev Anand only for two years, their friendship lasted for a lifetime. She recalled that Dev Anand was paid Rs 275 per month for Hum Ek Hain. The renowned actors like Guru Dutt and Rehman also got a break in this movie. Dr. Watve, the son of Bapu Watve, recalls that Dev Anand got well along with them and, “As he drew a higher salary, he used to pay the rents of Guru Dutt and Rehman, too,” said Dr Watve.”

During his stay in Vasant Villa, Dev Anand rode to the studio in a cycle. Every morning, he would sit in Lucky Restaurant, and have a bun maska and tea with Bapu. Recalls Dr. Watve that “Even though he shifted base to Mumbai, Dev Anand remained in touch with my father,” said Dr Watve. In the 80s, the actor had visited Pune and expressed his desire to have bun-maska and chai at Lucky. “Since he had become a huge star, it wasn’t possible to visit the restaurant without being mobbed.”

The grandson of V.G. Damle, the co-founder of Prabhat Film Company said that the success of Dev Anand’s first film gave him another opportunity to work with the company for a second time in the film, Aage Badho. Damle recalls that when he was called to discuss the movie, “For the first time, he travelled by the Deccan Queen from Mumbai to Pune. Travelling by this train in those days was a prestigious thing and Dev saab quite enjoyed that ride.”

The legendary actor is always known by his colleagues and co-actors as a very hard working, disciplined, enthusiastic, and a good human being. He was also known for his style. Owing to his signature puffed hairstyle, and good looks, he was compared to Gregory Peck. He had a charm about him that mesmerized the masses. He was a very dynamic person who inspired everyone around him.

He ruled the Indian cinema for a very long time and will always be remembered by his fans with fondness. People will always remember him as an ‘evergreen romantic hero’. We pay tribute to this legend, who dedicated 65 years of his life to the Indian cinema.