Shining Stars: Dev Anand

Source(google.com.pk)
Dev Anand Biography

Date of Birth
26 September 1923, Gurdaspur, Punjab, British India (now Gurdaspur, Punjab, India)
Date of Death
3 December 2011, London, England, UK (cardiac arrest)
Nickname
Dev Saab
Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)
Mini Biography
After having played the Lead Actor for more than five decades in over 110 motion pictures, Dev Anand continues to bestride Indian Cinema today. He has given a new dimension to that magical state known as Stardom. And for his exemplary work he was recently awarded the Padma Bhushan - a title awarded to a person of extraordinary talent, in his discipline, for his outstanding contribution and/or achievements by the President of India. From the time he embarked on his career as a Film Actor in the mid-forties till now, his movies has been a journey filled with enriching experiences for the 'Evergreen Living Legend' of Indian Cinema. And he has always remained eternally youthful by his remarkable ability to live always in the present and the future--never in the past.
Also, as head of his film production company Navketan International Films, which was founded in 1949, Anand has introduced a multitude of talent to the Indian Film Industry by way of actors, directors, music composers and cinematographers. Today, he continues to introduce new talent to cinema and experiment with new ideas for movies. And today, he also heads one of the finest Film Sound Post-Production facilities in India - Anand Recording Studios - which has to its credit more than 3,000 Indian feature films that have been mixed/ surround mixed for worldwide release.
Anand has won two Filmfare Awards - India's equivalent of the Oscars - in 1958 for his performance in the film "Kala Paani" (Black Water) and in 1966 for his performance in Navketan International Films' "Guide". "Guide" went on to win Filmfare Awards in five other categories including 'Best Film' and 'Best Director' and was sent as India's entry for the Oscars in the foreign film category that year. He co-produced the English Version of "Guide" with the Nobel Laureate Pearl S. Buck ("The Good Earth"). Eventually, his creative sensibilities got the better of him and he started writing and directing his own movies.
In 1993, he received a Filmfare 'Lifetime Achievement Award' and in 1996 he received a Screen Videocon 'Lifetime Achievement Award'. Then in 1997 he was given the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images Award for his Outstanding Services to the Indian Film Industry. In 1998, he was given a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the Ujala Anandlok Film Awards Committee in Calcutta. In 1999, he received the Sansui 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for his 'Immense Contribution to Indian Cinema' in New Delhi. In the year 2000, he was awarded the Film Goers' 'Mega Movie Maestro of the Millenium' Award in Mumbai. And then in July 2000, in New York City, he was honored by an Award at the hands of the then First Lady of the United States of America - Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton - for his 'Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema'. And again Anand was awarded the Indo-American Association 'Star of the Millennium' Award in the Silicon Valley, California. The President of India honored Anand with the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award on India's Republic Day - August 15, 2001. And yet again, Donna Ferrar, Member New York State Assembly, honored 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.
Most recently, in April 2003, Anand was given a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the F.I.F.A. Committee in Johannesburg, South Africa. For an Indian Movie Icon who has hobnobbed with royalty, heads of State and celebrities, he has done it all. Anand continues to forge ahead with his new All American Film Project "Song Of Life" - a musical love story which will be entirely shot in the United States. He will play the central character in this film which will have a predominantly American star cast and for which the Music will be composed by American composers and sung by American singers. "Song Of Life" will be made in English and will be directed by Dev Anand.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Suneil Anand and Navketan Publicity.
Mini Biography
Dev Anand was born as Dharam Dev on September 26, 1923, in the Punjabi-speaking Anand family, son to Advocate Pishorimal, younger brother to Chetan and Manmohan, and senior to Vijay. He had one sister, Sheela, who was subsequently married in the Kapur family, and gave birth to actor/film-maker, Shekhar Kapur; two daughters, Neelu, who was married to actor Navin Nischol; and Aruna who was the wife of Ajay/Parikshat Sahni, son of renowned Balraj Sahni. Both Neelu and Aruna have since been divorced.
Dev graduated from Government College, Lahore, British India, left his hometown to work in the Military Censor Office at Churchgate, Bombay. He was offered a role in the 1946 flick 'Hum Ek Hain'. This is where he stuck a friendship with Bollywood legend Guru Dutt.
Ashok Kumar introduced Dev as a leading man opposite Kamini Kaushal in 'Ziddi'. Thereafter there has been no looking back for the 'evegreen' Dev Anand, who went on to star in over 110 movies, spanning from 1946 through to 2005.
He is perhaps one of the few who dreamed of starlet Snehprabha Pradhan and had his dream come true when he got to not only meet her but also act with her. His other dream was of owning a car, a Hillman, was also fulfilled.
While filming opposite Singer-actress Suraiya, the boat capsized, Dev rescued her and in true Bollywood style both fell in love and wanted to get married. This did not happen as Suraiya's grandma strongly opposed this alliance. Suraiya, who acted with Dev in half a dozen movies, remained unmarried all her life.
In 1954 Dev met Mona Singh, a beauty queen from Simla, who was discovered by his brother, Chetan, and both got married her in a quiet ceremony in Russia where they were on a tour to screen 'Rahee' and 'Aandhiyan'. She adapted the screen name of Kalpana Kartik, and starred opposite her to-be-husband in all her movies. Both became parents in 1956 when Suneil was born. They also become parents to a daughter, Devina.
Dev is also known for introducing two of the most beautiful actresses to Bollywood, namely Zeenat Aman in 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' and Tina Munim in 'Des Pardes.
Not easily intimidated, Dev Anand, Shatrughan Sinha, Inder Sen Johar, Kishore Kumar were amongst the few that actually stood up against the authoritarian and oppressive regime of Indira Gandhi during the Emergency, while many in the opposition preferred to flee India to escape Mrs. Gandhi's wrath. He founded the now extinct National Party of India.
The Anand Brothers founded Navketan Films which is being administered by Suneil.
He was honored with the Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Palke awards during the years 2001 and 2002 respectively, in addition to winning three Filmfare Awards - one each for his performance in 'Kala Paani' and 'Guide'; and the third being the Lifetime Achievement award that was presented to him during 1991. During 1996 he received the 'Screen Videocon Lifetime Achievement' Award.
His autobiography 'Romancing with Life' was released during his 2007 birthday party. In February 2011 his 1961 hit 'Hum Dono' was colorized and re-released.
Due to health reasons Dev and Suniel had traveled to London, Britain and had booked a room in The Washington Hotel. His son was present with him when at 03:30 hours GMT on Sunday December 3, 2011, he passed away in his sleep after a sudden cardiac arrest. Paramedics were summoned but were unable to revive him. He is survived by his wife, Kalpana; son, Suniel; and daughter, Devina. On December 10, 2011, he was cremated in West London's Putney Vale Crematorium. His remains were taken to India and immersed in the Godavari River. He was 88.
Condolences poured in from every corner of India, including ones from President Pratibha Patil; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Parliament Speaker Meira Kumar; Information & Broadcasting Minister, Ambika Soni, in addition to ones from prominent Bollywood and other personalities like Salman Rushdie.
This ever-green legend with an endearing toothy grin, long-sleeved shirts, with a unique gait and dialogue delivery will never be forgotten.
IMDb Mini Biography By: rAjOo
Spouse
Kalpana Kartik (1954 - 3 December 2011) (his death) 2 children
Trivia
Uncle of Ketan Anand.
Father of Suneil Anand.
Brother of Vijay Anand.
Brother of Chetan Anand.
Formed a popular screen couple with Nutan
He was one of four children of a lawyer in India. He went to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1943 after graduating from the Government College in Lahore, India with a degree in English.
He is survived by his wife, Kalpana Kartik; their son, Suneil Anand, and daughter, Devina Anand. Younger brother of Chetan Anand who he started a film production company, Navketan.
Dev Anand was highest paid Hindi actor from 1957-1964 and and the 2nd highest paid Hindi actor from 1965-1975.
Grand uncle to Bollywood actor Purab Kohli. Purab's father (Hersh Kohli) is Dev Anand's cousins son.
Uncle to Bollywood actor/director Bhisham Kohli. Bhisham acted under the screen name Vishal Anand in a few films.

Dev Anand