Life Saga of the Evergreen Super Star Dev Anand

Bangalore:  The sad demise of the film legend Dev Anand marks the end of an era of Indian Cinema. Often cited as the ‘Evergreen Super star of Bollywood ‘ Dev Anand played the lead actor for more than five decades in over 110 films. Dev Anand has given a new proportion to that wonderful state known as Stardom. He debuted in 1946 with the movie named “Hum Ek Hain” and he continued to rule Bollywood until the 70’s as a superstar. The actor was compared with Hollywood Legend Gregory Peck early in his career because of his mannerisms and hairstyle which was very similar to the Hollywood actor.

Born on 26^th September 1923 in Gurdaspur, Punjab, Dev Anand was the third son of Pishori Lal Anand, who was a well known advocate. After graduating from Government College Lahore in English Literature, the actor travelled to Mumbai, where he worked as a clerk in a government office. Soon after joining as a member of the Indian People's Theatre Association, Dev was offered the lead role  in 1946 in Prabhat Films' Hum Ek Hain, from where the journey of a superstar began. During late 40’s, the actor got romantically linked with noted singer and actress of that time named Suraiya, with whom he acted in seven films namely Vidya released in 1948, Jeet released in 1949, Afsar in 1950, Do Sitare in 1951 and Sanam released in 1951, all of which proved to be a major hit at the box office.  Suraiya chose to remain unmarried after their relationship was opposed by her maternal grandmother, as both of them were of different caste.