Guide raises the point about what calibre of actor Dev Anand was and is. It is fair to say that Dev Anand, for a spell, needed a certain handling by someone like Raj Khosla (Kala Pani) or Goldie Vijay Anand (Guide).
For Dev Anand, at his Zeenie zenith, won more marks for his looks than his histrionics. The essential difference, between Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor, as between Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar, is that the other two of The Triumvirate were thinker-craftsmen. While, for Dev Anand, to think was to act! In the sense that I never once saw Dev Anand stop to nurse an idea. As Dev noted: "The Hare Rama Hare Krishna idea came to me in a flash and I was ready with the script in next to no time!"
If only Dev Anand had paused to 'round' an idea, he would have made far better films. But then to pause is something that goes against the Dev Anand grain! Look to how coolly Dev Anand jettisoned R D Burman, as his set music director -- just because Pancham asked for a little more -- and turned to Rajesh Roshan for Desh Pardes (1978). Having done that, Dev even complained to me about the initial tuning problems he was having with Rajesh Roshan. But any problems Dev Anand had with anyone were only initial. By the time Des Pardes was halfway through, Dev conceded that he had been unfair to Rajesh Roshan, that it naturally took the boy a little time to adjust to his fast and furious thinking.
His biography, in fact, is the only thing Dev Anand has failed to deliver in time. His films continue to come thick and fast. How Dev Anand manages to turn them out like sausages remains a mystery. But then, never forget, Dev Anand continues to be the darling of NRIs. Raj Kapoor is no more.
Dilip Kumar plans for the morrow.
While Dev Anand lives for the day.
Also Read: 'I can't be bored, boredom is death'
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