Evergreen Dev Anand turns 80

<div class="section1"><div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="1" width="77.5%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><script language="javascript" src="Config?Configid=43376741"></script><br /><a href="javascript:popUp(&quot1;photopop?msid=189290&type=0&quot1;)"> <img border="0" align="left" src="/cms.dll/thumb?height=120&width=120&photoID=189290" hspace="12"" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">Click to enlarge picture</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">MUMBAI: Dev Anand, the actor who set trends, be it dressing with elan, making the droop of a shoulder a fashion statement or projecting the boy-next-door as an affable person -- turned 80 on Friday.<br /><br />The residence of the actor was streaming with visitors who dropped in to wish the thespian.However, many had to return disappointed after they were informed that the octogenarian was away in New York working on the script of his new film, according to the actor''s staff.<br /><br />Born on September 26, 1923 in Gurdaspur in Punjab to a well-to-do advocate, Devdutt Pishorimal Anand, the actor went on to graduate in English literature from the Government College, Lahore. It was his love for acting that made him leave his hometown.<br /><br />However, lady luck failed to smile at the young man, who initially took up a job in the censor department of the army, reading out letters of soldiers'' to their families, an experience he says had left him rich in emotions and provided an insight into the hearts and minds of men.<br /><br />After his initial years of struggle, Dev went on to star in his debut film <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Hum Ek Hain </span>in 1964, which, however, failed to make its mark in the box-office. <br /><br />However, it was at Prabhat studio that he met the talented Guru Dutt and to struck a rapport soon, with each making a pact that if Dev were to produce a film, Dutt would be a director and if Dutt were to turn film maker, Dev would be its hero. <br /><br />His first success came with the film <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Ziddi </span>(1948) with the actor never having to look back therafter.<br /><br />The following year also saw him turning producer and launching his own banner Navketan, which still continues churning out movies year after year. <br /><br />As per the earlier pact, Dev invited Guru Dutt to direct the crime thriller <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Baazi</span>, in 1951. Lyricist Sahir''s song <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Tadbeer Se Bigdi Huyee</span> proved to be prophetic and Dev went on to become a star, his Gregory Peck style being lapped by the audience and imitated brazenly.<br /><br />Dev -- whose urbane cow-boy looks won him adulation from his fans -- set a trend as he flaunted trendy scarfs, wore stylised berets and caps, threw a sweater carelessly around his shoulder or blew cigarette rings in the air.<br /><br />His characteristic style of nodding the head, turned into his USP, as his films hit the box office, be it <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Munimji</span>, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">CID</span>, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Paying Guest</span>, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Gambler</span> or <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Tere Ghar Ke Saamne</span>.<br /><br />Despite tough competition from talented actors like Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar, Dev maintained his fan following as he essayed the role of a son who was willing to go to any lengths in the film <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Kala Pani </span>in 1958, earning him the best actor award for the film. <br /><br />His iconoclastic role as a hero with many a weakness and grey shades in the film `Guide'' released in 1965, Dev brilliantly played the character of man who shamelessly lives off a talented dancer and subsequently passes through a gamut of shame and repentance.<br /><br />His film <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Johnny Mera Naam </span>in 1970 also went on to be a golden jubilee hit and re-confirmed his romantic image.<br /><br />Though his maiden attempt at direction <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Prem Pujari</span> flopped, his sophomore directorial effort <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Hare Rama Hare Krishan</span>, with Zeenat Aman plying the pot-smoking protagonist, created records of sorts. His subsequent films like <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Des Pardes </span>(1978) also went down well his audience.<br /><br />His recent films like <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Awwal Number</span>, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Main Solah Baras Ki</span>, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Censor </span>and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Love at Times Square</span>, however, have missed the box office mark.<br /><br />Dev, who played various shaded roles be it a heartless smuggler in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Jaal</span>, a pickpocket in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Pocketmaar</span>, the absconding gang member in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Dushman</span>, the black marketer in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Kala Bazaar</span>, the murderer in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Bombay Ka Babu</span> or even the character with human follies in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Raju Guide</span>, the actor continued to be one of the reigning stars of the day.<br /><br />It was in January 2001, that the actor was also awarded the Padmabhushan for his contribution to Indian Cinema. </div> </div>