Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said the film world had lost a true genius and with his death an era has come to an end. She hailed his commitment to social issues and said that he was truly a multi-faceted performer as an actor, director and producer, and his death has caused an irreparable loss.
The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Information and Broadcasting Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni have condoled the death of Devanand.
In his message, Dr. Manmohan Singh said that he was a great Artisit, who entertained generations of cinema lovers for over five decades. He said, Dev Anand was an embodiment of passion for acting and film making.
Dev Anand made his debut as an actor in 1946 in “Hum Ek Hain”. He was offered his first big break by Ashok Kumar, who picked him up as the lead actor for Bombay Talkies production “Ziddi” co-starring Kamini Kaushal in 1948 which became a big success.
Born on September 26, 1923 and named Dharam Dev Anand in Shakargarh Tehsil of Gurdaspur district in undivided Punjab now in Narowal in Pakistan to well-to-do advocate Kishorimal Anand, he graduated in English literature from Government College, Lahore.
He began his career in the military censor office at Churchgate, Bombay and later joined his elder brother Chetan Anand as a member of the Indian People’s Theatre Association.
Bollywood’s evergreen star Dev Anand, whose flamboyant image and innate romantic spirit swayed millions of fans, died in London last night following cardiac arrest. He was 88. Family sources said that Dev Anand had gone to London for medical check up as he was not keeping well for the last few days. His son Sunil was with him when he breathed his last.
Known for his trademark puff of hair, his sloping walk and smile, Dev Anand acted in countless hits like “Guide”, “Paying Guest”, “Baazi”, “Jewel Thief “, “CID”, “Johny Mera
Naam”, “Amir Garib”, “Warrant”, “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” and “Des Pardes”.
For his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, Dev Anand was honoured with the prestigious the ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 2001 and ‘Dada Saheb Phalke Award’ in 2002. He won two Filmfare Awards – India’s equivalent of the Oscars – in 1958 for his performance in the film “Kala Paani” and in 1966 for “Guide”.