Mumbai : “Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya” — true to his popular song, Dev Anand, one of the most loveable romantic heroes of the 1950s and the 1960s, has refused to let age slow him down. He turned 88 Monday excited about new films and his birthday gift — an I-Phone.
He has announced the sequel to his hit film “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” and is looking forward to the release of “Chargesheet”.
“I am having a meeting with Warner Brothers, my producers of ‘Chargesheet’, about the premiere on Monday morning. In the evening, my friends have planned a dinner. A lot of eminent people think my birthday is worth celebrating,” said Dev Anand, who has been part of the Hindi film industry for the past 65 years.
The Padma Bhushan awardee and Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner continues to be as charged up about his new film “Chargesheet”, which opens Friday, as he has been about all his other films.
“If I’m not as enthusiastic about my new film then I’ve no business making it. The very fact that I’ve picked up the responsibility of directing another film proves I’ve the energy for it. The day I don’t, I won’t make any more films. My audience, my fans are my source of energy. I need my fans’ good wishes… they give me my energy,” says Dev saab, who has got himself an I-Phone for his birthday.
The film is a different genre for the octogenarian, who says: “I haven’t done this genre before. It’s a murder mystery.”
The sequel to “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” brings back the character that Dev saab played in the original, 39 years after it first appeared.
Apparently the character would have aged by less than a decade in the sequel, as the story moves forward. The hunt is on for what the evergreen superstar describes as “a woman of today, trendy savvy with-it and attractive”.
“I have the script for ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna Aaj’, which takes forward the story of the earlier film. It is not a remake of ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’. I don’t believe in remakes. I believe in moving forward. Every scene every character except mine would be new. If Dev Anand played Prashant in 1971, he will play Prashant in 2012 as well,” he said.
The legend confesses that he starts thinking of his next film even before he has completed a film.
“If you want to define Dev Anand, it would have to be as ‘restlessness’. While I am making a film I am totally consumed by it. But yes, a part of my mind moves to the next project.”
Ask him what are his birthday wishes, and the inimitable Dev saab quips: “I don’t make wishes. I make them come true. I go with exactly what I want to do. It’s an ongoing process. As long as I feel creative and as long as I feel there’re some people who want to watch my films, I’ll continue to make them.”
His message for his fans?
“I love my fans and seek their good wishes all the time. The younger generations is so clued in, so huge in mind and impact. As they connect with me I feel my batteries being recharged. Some of the most remarkable minds of the world stay in our country. And I give them my love and good wishes. Continue to see my films.”
His body of work includes hits like “Baazi”, “Munimji”, “C.I.D.”, “Paying Guest”, “Solva Saal”, “Kala Pani”,” Kala Bazar”,”Bombai Ka Babu”, “Manzil, “Tere Ghar Ke Samne” “Asli-Naqli”, “Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai”, “Teen Deviyaan”, and not to forget his all time classic “Guide”.
IANS
