Dev Anand

Evergreen actor Dev Anand dies of cardiac arrest in London
Press Trust Of India
London, December 04, 2011

Dev Anand, Bollywood's evergreen star, who swayed generations of fans as debonair hero and later as a filmmaker in a Bollywood career spanning 65 years, died in his sleep on Sunday, leaving behind a legacy of classics like Guide and Hum Dono.

A sprightly 88-year-old Dev Anand came here a few days ago for a medical check-up and died after a massive cardiac arrest in his hotel room at 10pm (3.30am IST Sunday) with his son Sunil by his side.

The legendary actor was rushed to a nearby hospital but he was pronounced brought dead. He was not keeping well for the last few days.

Dev Anand will be creamated on Tuesday or Wednesday in London, his aide Mohan. His wife Kalpana Kartik, daughter Devina and granddaughter will be flying to London.

His trademark puff of hair and his sloping walk in films like CID and Jewel Thief, created a huge fan following, making him a legend in his own lifetime.

Dev Anand, whose idol was Hollywood star Gregory Peck, gave countless hits like Guide, Paying Guest, Baazi, Jewel Thief, CID, Johny Mera Naam, Amir Garib, Warrant, Hare Rama Hare Krishna and Des Pardes.

When his contemporaries like Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar stopped being the leading men in movies, the versatile actor continued to woo young heroines in movies like Johnny Mera Naam, Des Pardes, Hare Rama Hare Krishna among others till 1983.

Dev Anand made his debut as an actor in 1946 in Hum Ek Hain. By the time his Ziddi was released in 1947 he was a superstar and never looked back. He made his directorial debut with Prem Pujari.

For his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, Dev Anand was honoured with the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 2001 and Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 2002.

The actor's recent movies focused on the themes of present times like Awwal Number, Sau Crore, Censor, Mr Prime Minister and the latest Chargesheet where he played the central character.

Even though after Awwal Number (1990), Dev Anand movies did not do well at the box office, the evergreen hero's mantra was always to think positive. "I never give myself a chance to get depressed. I think ahead," he would say.

In the 40s Dev Anand got offers to star opposite singer-actress Suraiya in woman-oriented films, as the male lead. They fell in love and together gave seven hits Vidya (1948), Jeet (1949), Shair (1949), Afsar (1950), Nili (1950) Do Sitare (1951) and Sanam (1951).

Suraiya's maternal grandmother opposed the relationship as they were Muslim and Dev Anand Hindu, and so, Suraiya remained unmarried all her life. Dev Anand married Kalpana Kartik and had son Sunil and daughter Devina.

Dev Anand introduced actresses like Zeenat Aman, Tina Munim, Mumtaz, Jackie Shroff and Tabu to Bollywood.

The actor was planning a second part of "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" even as late as this September.

From The Hindustan Times: