Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya

Ranjan Das Gupta

“My brothers are more gifted and reflexive than me. They made me what I am,” said Dev Anand at the launch date of Suneil Anand, as a hero in Anand Aur Anand. The three brothers — Chetan, Dev and Vijay — stood together hand-in-hand. Yet, the confidence and determination of the days of yore were missing in the talented Anands!

After the award-winning Neechanagar, Chetan Anand was without work for four years. In 1950, Dev Anand formed his production company Navketan Films, along with Chetan. Navketan introduced genuine talents like Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Mandi Burman and Vijay Anand. They made many memorable films like Baazi, Taxi Driver, Kalapani, Hum Dono and Guide.

Says Chetan Anand’s son, Ketan Anand, “Dev Uncle was the biggest star of the 50s, 60s and early 70s. However, my father taught the art of acting to Dev Uncle. Goldie uncle extracted the best out of him. Together they formed unique combinations”.

Golden era

Dev Anand looked up to Chetan Anand as an idol. He once confessed, “Guru Dutt was not confident of completing Baazi. So before shooting the climax, he went into hibernation. It was Chetan Bhaijee who completed the film, brought back Guru Dutt and restored his confidence.”

When Navketan’s Aandhiyan was an official entry to the first Venice Film Festival in 1953, Chetan Anand wanted to edit the court scene. Dev Anand protested as he put in his best in the sequence. Chetan Anand agreed and did not edit the scene. A taut script by Uma Anad (Chetan Anand’s wife) and Vijay Anand enabled Chetan Anand to direct Taxi Driver. It was a rip-roaring success.

By the time he was directing Funtoosh, Chetan Anand insisted Dev Anand change his acting style. Dev Anand was reluctant as the style Guru Dutt gave him earned him peaks of stardom. So, creative differences led to the separation of the two brothers.

Vijay Anand and Raj Khosla carried on from where Chetan Anand left. In fact, no other director understood Dev Anand, the actor, better than Vijay Anand. After Guide, Vijay Anand persuaded Dev Anand to change his hairstyle. Dev Anand was on par with Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor in Hum Dono, Tere Ghar Ke Samne and Guide.

Falling apart

Manoj Kumar once stated, “Devsaab’s directional debut Prem Pujari was neither for critics nor the audience. His shifting to writing and direction was Devsaab’s Waterloo. As an actor directed by his brothers he was excellent in front of the camera”. By the early 70’s, Dev and Vijay Anand fell apart after giving brilliant films like Johny Mera Naam and Tere Mere Sapne.

When Vijay Anand outclassed Dev Anand as an actor in Tere Mere Sapne, the latter could not accept it. He categorically told Vijay to stick his role behind the camera. This hurt the sentimental Vijay Anand, who parted ways with his elder brother. Dev Anand was never the same as before. He did not switch over to mature characters and committed a blunder.

In December 2011, Dev Anand left for his heavenly abode.

Past magic

After the award-winning Neechanagar, Chetan Anand was without work for four years. 

In 1950, Dev Anand formed his production company Navketan Films, along with Chetan. Navketan introduced genuine talents like Guru 

Dutt, Raj Khosla, Mandi Burman and Vijay Anand. They made many memorable films like Baazi, Taxi Driver, Kalapani, Hum Dono and Guide.