Lata Khubchandani

He is incredibly busy.

Dev Anand is mixing for his latest film, Censor.

But, unlike other filmmakers, he is neither grumpy nor does he evade you with an, "I'm busy, talk to me later."

None of that. Instead, he is himself -- smiling, courteous, unfailingly polite, charming.

When he looks at you with all his attention, and remarks, "You are looking more prosperous than ever. It suits you," it makes you blush.

He has exciting plans, has Dev Anand. He has always emanated positive vibes, and that is why he has been getting offers to write his memoirs.

The actor-director admits, "They're good offers, but it takes a lot of time looking back, recalling so many many incidents -- people I have met in the course of my 57-year-old foray in Bombay, in the film industry.

"I came in 1943. It is 2000 now, but it seems like yesterday. I feel no different except that I've had so many experiences… I have matured, but otherwise I feel the same in my attitude to life.

Dev Anand, unlimited, for you:

I think I have been very lucky that all my relationships -- male and female -- have been excellent. I have shared an excellent rapport with everyone I have worked with.

I am inherently easygoing. I never demand, never expect. I'm not confrontational, not aggressive. Basically, I'm very self-contained.

And whatever I am today is solely due to my own efforts. Nobody can say, "I made Dev Anand."

I came to Bombay to become an actor. I may have done other things until then. But after I got my break, I never looked back. I went with the flow of things, full steam.

That excitement about life and my desire to achieve is still present.

I think I've grown with this country. And today, I think my small little achievement is that if I say something, the country listens to me.

So, perhaps, I've got a little status today.

ALL my leading ladies have been fantastic.

In fact, I just called Hema Malini and asked to play my wife in Censor. She agreed immediately .

They give me respect -- all of them.

I think that is because I have always listened to their point of view. I have never been stubborn.

If I hadn't been an actor I have done somethine equally involving. I wouldn't have been a sportsman, but a writer, thinker, journalist, traveller -- anything to do with the mind.

I think I am a good writer. I would do something because of which I would be called an achiever -- I'd never live as a nonentity.

In 1954, we -- an Indian delegation -- went to the Soviet Union. It was the first Indian delegation to ever visit the Soviet Union, which had just opened the Iron Curtain.

On the way to Moscow from Geneva, we travelled by bus to visit Charles Chaplin at his villa, which he cynically called The White House -- because he had been thrown out of America. Today, when you go to Switzerland, they still point out the vila,

In Switzerland, they still point out his villa.

He was a great comedian, but he looked more like a philosopher. His wife, Oona O'Neill, daughter of poet Eugene O'Neill, was there, too.

I still remember him saying, "In any field, when you feel you are operating independent of anybody else -- that's the perfection of your achievement."

That is so true. When I'm struck by a thought and I decide it could make a good film, I write it down myself, direct it myself, produce it myself. Nobody can hamper me in the execution. Nothing stops me from doing what I want -- my work is independent.

I don't consult anybody except my own conscience. You have to lead the world. And people are scared to lead. It's a lonely job.

I have enjoyed every moment of the adulation and love I get from fans. I am very good with mobs. Put me in a crowd when I'm shooting, and watch me manage them. They love me when I shoot with them.

Because temperamentally, I belong to them and I become part of the mob.

I love the love I get from people.

At times, you are not recognised for your work when you're alive. But when you're gone, they will.

THE first question people ask me is, "Why are you making films when your films haven't done well?"

I laugh at them, "You want me to give up making films because they haven't done financially well? Don't take the guts out of my system. I am experimenting all the time -- that's always a risk.

When you're toeing the line, you are bound to be successful -- it has been done before and you're just walking over a well-trodden path. You are very greedy about your money you're keeping it safe.

But where's the spirit in that? When the Internet came in, one man Bill Gates had the nerve to take a bold step no one else had and see where he is today! I like it.

I'm asked, "Why are you making Censor? Will it go through the Censors?"

And I say, "Why not? Has anybody made Censor before? It is the right time. Has anybody else conceived it?"

I see them as scared people. They want to hold on to what they have.

My career in films has seen my growth as a person, too. It is all the result of my own experience -- travelling, making films, meeting people.

I graduated in English Literature. I wanted to do my MA, but my father couldn't afford it. I came here from Lahore.

But working in films has been a great teacher. Like life.

But my greatest teacher probably was my brother Chetan. He was a dramatist, very knowledgeable about the stage and radio. We would watch all-American films and dream that we would, one day, do those things, too.

My favourite actress is Ingrid Bergman -- great charm, absolutely fantastic.

I met Gregory Peck three--four times. People remarked how I was like him. I don't like comparisons.

I met him for the first time in Bombay, on his way back to the States from Sri Lanka. We met at the Willingdon Club. Suraiya really wanted to meet him. We met him.

Then I met him in Rome when he was shooting for Roman Holiday. I was passing through on my way from Venice. I stopped, sent him a note and he came to meet me. This was in 1952. I met him again on the sets of Moby Dick.

But the man I really admired as an actor was Jimmy Stewart.

I remember his It's A Wonderful Life. Guru Dutt and I saw it together. It was a Frank Capra film.

The director and I soon became great friends. In fact, he was the main delegate at the first International Film Festival hosted by India in New Delhi.

I took him to Juhu and moved around and about with him.

I finally ended up watching Jimmy Stewart in It's A Wonderful Life seven times. Capra should have won an award for it.

Hum Dono was screened at the Berlin Film Festival . James Stewart was there, too.

He and I bumped into each other in the elevator. I said, "Mr James Stewart, I am from the Indian delegatiuon, and I'm a great fan of yours." He was so happy that came for the Indian reception.

I then watched him on stage at London's West End, performing Harvey.

There was something very warm about him. He wasn't conventionally handsome but something about him grabbed you.

I have also loved Paul Muni, Robert Donat in Goodbye Mr Chips. Then I remember I saw Westside Story in a theatre with 4,000 people.

My life, my experiences with people… I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The Dev Anand slide show!


DONT MISS!

'He is an institution': - Suneil Anand

'I adore him!': - Jackie Shroff

'He is one of the true gentlemen left in our trade': - Yash Johar

'His energy is amazing!': - Jatin Lalit

'He has given breaks to so many people': - Amit Khanna

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