Sharad Rai | Dev Anand left this world on 3 December. The year was 2011 and the date was the same... he was no more. The news of his death left everyone stunned. I still feel that silence. Last year was his birthday. People paid their respects to him by screening his films at various places across the country. With the thought of writing something, I too started remembering those occasions when I had met Dev sahab. I remembered that journalists always got some inspiring things from him. He used to talk openly and whenever we wanted to say something in the conversation, he used to immediately interrupt us - 'Gentleman, do not interrupt.' One specialty of Dev sahab was that he did not ignore journalists like today's stars do. He used to talk with full respect and respected experienced journalists a lot. I have a very interesting memory of a meeting when I went to meet PRO Dinesh Patil at Anand Preview Theatre (Pali Hill, Mumbai). At that time his film 'Anand hi Anand' was on the floor. Dev sahab had his own special office on the top floor of the preview theatre. Sunil Anand (Dev sahab's son) ran the studio. That day Devina (his daughter) had come to meet Papa, so we had to wait for some time. When we entered his office, he said "Sorry gentleman for the delay...!" We sat on the sofa in front of him. Suddenly he got up and came to me and grabbed my collar. I was surprised - what is this? Then he buttoned up the open button of my shirt, saying - "Young man, an open button shirt does not suit your personality. Keep this in mind when you go somewhere to give an interview or take an interview." He buttoned up my shirt and went back to his seat. That moment was very embarrassing for me. I often did not button up the upper collar of my shirt. I still have this habit, but when I go to meet a special person, my hand reaches the button of my shirt collar. That day Dev sahab told me many things. He himself was never seen with an open collar. He was always conscious about his personality. That is why he wanted that those who came to meet him should also be well dressed. After that day, I went to meet him on many other occasions but I always kept in mind whether the shirt collar was buttoned up or whether he was wearing slippers instead of shoes or whether he had grown a beard. I still remember that lesson of Dev sahab when I go to interview someone. It is a different matter that nowadays all the stars wear open button shirts. Closing the collar has become old fashion. But Dev Anand sahab was a unique personality of his own kind. He was never seen in an open collar. Perhaps that is why he breathed his last abroad. Read also: Krystle D"Souza Wraps Shoot in Mauritius for First Copy with Munawar Nivedita Basu Joins as Vice President - Fiction at Dangal Sumit Singh Shares Her Winter Skincare Routine from 'Shaitani Rasmein' Siddharth Anand Reigns as Bollywood"s Undisputed King of Indian Cinema