Today is the birthday of one of the most popular Indian actors; Dev Anand, who would have turned 93 today. He has also worked as a director, writer, and a producer apart from being an outstanding actor. He has won many awards and honours for his overwhelming journey in the Indian film industry. He is believed to be one of the most influential actors, the Indian cinema has ever had.
Lesser-known Facts about Dev Anand
- He was the co-founder of Navketan Films in the year 1949 along with his brother Chetan Anand.
- He is the recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2002 by the Government of India for his outstanding contribution to the Indian Cinema.
- His real name was Devdutt Bishorimal Anand and did his graduation in English Literature from Government College, Lahore in British India.
- He worked for more than 65 years in Bollywood with nearly 114 Hindi films. He has also done two English films.
- Dev Anand rose to fame with his film Ziddi (1948) when Ashok Kumar spotted him.
- Guru Dutt was his best friend in the film industry. Both of them worked in the crime thriller, Baazi (1951) that was Dutt’s debut as a director and his wife, Kalpana Kartik’sd as an actress.
- Before becoming an actor, he used to work in the military censor’s office at Churchgate to earn Rs. 165 per month.
- Anand was paired with Suraiya in seven films after they fell for each other. They were seen together in Vidya (1948), Jeet (1949), Shair (1949), Afsar (1950), Nili (1950), Do Sitare (1951) and Sanam (1951).
- During the shooting of Vidya, he also saved Suraiya from drowning after the boat carrying them capsized during the shooting.
- He died on 3 December 2011 just after a few months of the release of his last film, Chargesheet.
