Dev Anand’s Journey: Dev Saheb was a symbol of cinema, dreams, and determination

When I met Dev Anand years ago at Mehboob Studios and requested an appointment, he initially thought I was a fan who had skipped school to meet him, but then, as soon as I mentioned Mayapuri, everything became clear. He set up a chair on the set and sat down. Although he was neither the director nor the producer of that film, but only an actor, he was observing everything on set minutely. The atmosphere was filled with nostalgia. His energy seemed to transcend his age. He always spoke fluent, clear English. When I asked him about this, he told me, "Language is our window to the world. I have made it my mission to learn, listen, and express myself so that anyone, anywhere, can understand me." Even when I was growing up in Gurdaspur, I loved listening to the BBC and reading Western novels. When I arrived in Bombay, I wanted to stand out – learning English and speaking it well was part of my dream. (Dev Anand life philosophy and work ethic)

He said, "It's the mind that controls everything. I'm mentally and physically active. I can work 17 hours a day, sleep only five or six hours, and still feel completely fresh and awake. That's because I love my work more than anything else. Age has nothing to do with enthusiasm. The more enthusiastic I am about my work, the younger I feel." (Dev Anand on enthusiasm and creativity)

He said, "I can't say what I'll be tomorrow, so I must make the most of the present, seize every opportunity, and grow until the end of my life." Even after crossing the age of eighty, he was still working on scripts.

He said, "For me, cinema is everywhere, in any event, in the expressions of the people I meet, in the headlines I read, I'm reading something in you too." My first directorial venture, "Prem Pujari," stemmed from the 1965 Indo-Pak war. The idea for "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" came to me after witnessing a random, strange scene in a hippie café in Kathmandu. A dark-skinned girl having fun with a foreigner? That scene, like a picture in my mind, became a film, and Zeenat Aman became a star.

His philosophy about films was different: "No one knows what makes a film a hit. Some of my best films didn't succeed. Some average films, people watch again and again. You never know which emotion, which melody will touch the audience's heart." The only way to work in cinema is to trust your intuition.

Dev Anand admitted that not all of his films were hits, but he never let failures dampen his spirits. "Sometimes you have to be courageous enough to lose money. I'm not a spendthrift; I manage all the expenses from my studio and the money I earn. I'm not accountable to anyone; flops don't break me. I always believe that in the end, I'll be able to control the situation." (Dev Anand political thoughts and courage)

When we discussed the challenges of censorship and creativity, he rolled his eyes, "I once stormed out of a censor board meeting fuming. They didn't want to approve a scene in which my character was drunk. I tried to explain to them that I wasn't playing myself. Cinema is about characters. Why would anyone bring in human realities? Our censorship rules are outdated, and sometimes I feel they don't understand artistic freedom." I made the film "Censor" in response to start this debate. I don't promote obscenity or bad habits, but I want India to have a creative, democratic censorship code, not one that's stuck in old thinking." (Dev Anand political thoughts and courage)

After that meeting, I had several more meetings with Dev Saheb. Dev Anand was unafraid to express his views, even in the face of political power. He recalled, "During the Emergency, we film industry people were pushed to the wall. That power banned Kishore Kumar's songs and pressured people to chant slogans. I even started a political party after the Emergency, but I realized I wasn't cut out for politics. Politics requires a cold heart, and my heart is always warm."

Dev Anand had said, "The best minds of the country should be our leaders. We need more literacy and knowledge; only then will people stop accepting bad rulers. I hope that change will come when the youth come forward and their young, liberal thinking comes to the fore. Otherwise, I am disappointed with the little change I see."

Despite his conflicts with the system, Dev Anand was a romantic and a believer in the power of dreams. "I came to Bombay without any connections, without any recommendations. I lived in a chawl, I suffered from food shortage , but I always dreamed of seeing my face on big cinema posters. To be successful, you have to pursue your dreams with single-minded devotion. You have to maintain faith."

Talking about the emotional aspect of his life, he said, "I have always been prepared to love and then face heartbreak. I too had loved deeply, but that was not possible due to social reasons." Yes, I cried on my brother Chetan's shoulder, but after that love ended, I never looked back and moved on. I focused on Navketan Films and met my wife, Mona, who was very helpful and educated. We didn't want any big drama at our wedding. For me, simple things were best."

Dev Sahab didn't judge others, but he made it clear that certain things weren't for him. "I never liked dancing at weddings for money. It was like selling your soul, and I could never do that."

Dev Anand's respect for women and old-fashioned etiquette were something he learned at home. "My mother was affectionate and gentle. She died of tuberculosis, and I took care of her as a child. I try to maintain that compassionate nature, that gentleness, in my films and in my life. Courtesy, polite behavior—these values ​​never go out of style."

Dev Anand admired modesty and purity over glamour. He said, "Ingrid Bergman was a tremendous actress for me. I saw so much charm in her, but also so much innocence, without any vulgarity. That's the beauty I love."

Regarding his personal health and longevity, he said, "I don't drink, I don't smoke, or I don't eat meat. My optimism is my true food. I forgive easily. I never hold on to sorrow for long. Sorrows don't stay with me. For me, every next moment is a new excitement. Maybe I'll live to be a hundred." ( but sadly this didn't happen.)

His outlook on life and the world was progressive, even in the face of ever-changing events: "Change is the only constant. I've seen this industry evolve from black and white silent films to color, to digital. But what really matters is your hunger for work. As long as you're passionate, you remain relevant."

He would sometimes wax philosophical about the relationship between art and destiny. "Sometimes I really wonder, did someone write this life for me? Because I had nothing, no money, no friends in Bombay. But destiny has a way of rewarding passionate dreamers. The actor in me never slept. I think that's what matters: never giving up, always being willing to go the extra mile."

If he were to use the word "boffo" to describe his career, he would laugh and say, "Yes, I had some boffo years. But success is more than just statistics. It's about living your dreams and inspiring others to do the same. If you're honest, hardworking, and kind, you'll definitely find your own kind of boffo success."

Dev Anand passed away on December 3, 2011, at the age of 88. He left behind much more than just hit films. He left behind a way of life, a restless, joyful, endlessly curious spirit, always looking forward, always believing that the best is yet to come. And perhaps, through his indomitable optimism and passion for life, he gave the world its biggest blockbuster.

Dev Anand said during our last meeting, "For me, true success is touching people's hearts again and again. Whoever you are, in whatever profession or field, always aim for a brilliant performance. But keep your soul and your smile intact."

This is Dev Anand's philosophy—clear, generous, and forever young.

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