Evergreen Dev Anand at 85

It was business as usual for India's hero through six decades who spent his 85th birthday on Friday in the studios. But the ever ebullient Dev Anand was also ready to party -- a day before he leaves for London.

"I will be there in my studio and my friends will drop in to wish me. All are welcome in my studio. The whole industry including you is my friend," Anand told IANS.

No party had been planned but Anand said: "The get together of people who will come to wish me will automatically turn into a party."

The man who has epitomised romance through generations of cine watchers leaves for London on Saturday for the international edition of his book "Romancing With Life".

"It will be great moment of my life," he said.

He returns on October 5 after which he starts with the next schedule of the shoot for his film "Chargesheet" - he's acting and directing too.

"After I return from London, I will record a song with Asha Bhosle for my film and then proceed with the next schedule of shoot at Panchgani."

Here is a fact file on Dev Anand:

Name: Dev Anand

Original Name: Devdutt Pishorimal Anand

Nick Name: Chiru

Born: September 26, 1923

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Birth Place: Gurdaspur, Punjab

Family

Father: Advocate Pishorimal Anand

Brothers - Chetan Anand (director) Vijay Anand (actor-director).

Sister - Sheel Kanta Kapur (mother of renowned Hindi and English film director Shekhar Kapur)

Wife - Kalpana Kartik

Son - Suniel Anand

Daughter - Devina

Education

B.A. (English honors) from Government College, Lahore (now in Pakistan)

Career

First Job: Joined military censor office, Mumbai

First Assignment: Hum Ek Hain (1946)

First Hit: "Ziddi" (1948)

First Double Role - "Hum Dono" (1961)

First Heroine - Kalpana Kartik, Geeta Bali

First Filmfare Award - 1958 for "Kala Pani"

First Car: Black Hillman

First Autobiography: "Romancing with Life - an autobiography by Dev Anand" (2007)

First Film as Director: "Prem Pujari" (1970)

In 1949, Dev and his elder brother Chetan Anand launched their home banner, Navketan

Landmark films

1951: "Baazi" - co-stars: Kalpana Kartik, Geeta Bali
1954: "Taxi Driver" - co-star: Kalpana Kartik
1956: "CID Shakila" - co-star: Waheeda Rehman
1957: "Paying Guest" - co-star: Nutan
1958: "Kala Pani" - co-stars: Madhubala, Nalini Jaywant
1961: "Hum Dono" - co-stars: Sadhana, Nanda
1963: "Tere Ghar Ke Saamne" - co-star: Nutan
1965: "Guide" - co-star: Waheeda Rehman
1967: "Jewel Thief" - co-star: Vyjayanthimala Bali
1970: "Johnny Mera Naam" - co-star: Hema Malini
1972: "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" - co-stars: Mumtaz, Zeenat Aman

Awards

Filmfare Awards

- 1958 - Best Actor for Kala Pani
- 1966 - Best Actor for Guide
- 1966 - Best Film for Guide
- 1991 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

National Honours

- 1996 - Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1997 - Mumbai Academy of Moving Images Award for Outstanding Services to the Indian Film Industry.
- 1999 - Sansui "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his 'Immense Contribution to Indian Cinema'
- 2001 - Padma Bhushan Award (India's third highest civilian award from the Government of India)
- 2001 - Special Screen Award for his contribution to Indian cinema.
- 2001 - Evergreen Star of the Millennium Award at the Zee Gold Bollywood Awards
- 2002 - Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award for cinematic excellence
- 2003 - Lifetime Achievement Award for 'Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema' at IIFA Award in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- 2004 - Legend of Indian Cinema Award at Atlantic City (US)
- 2004 - Living Legend Award by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in recognition of his contribution to the Indian entertainment industry.
- 2007 - Punjab Ratan (Jewel of Punjab) Award by the World Punjabi Organisation (European Division)
- 2008 - Lifetime Achievement Award by Rotary Club of Bombay

International Honours

- In July 2000, in New York City, Dev Anand was honoured by an Award at the hands of the then First Lady of the US - Hillary Rodham Clinton - for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

- In 2000, he was awarded the Indo-American Association Star of the Millennium Award in the Silicon Valley, California.

- Donna Ferrar, Member New York State Assembly, honoured him with a "New York State Assembly Citation" for his 'Outstanding Contribution to the Cinematic Arts Worthy of the Esteem and Gratitude of the Great State of New York' on May 1, 2001.

- In 2005, he was honoured with a "Special National Film Award" by the Government of Nepal at Nepal's first National Film Festival.

Indo-Asian News Service

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