Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar Patcy N in Mumbai
A memorial service was held for the legendary actor, director and producer Dev Anand at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai on Friday.
Dev Anand passed away in London on December 3 and was cremated at the Putney Vale cemetery and crematorium in London last Saturday.
The film fraternity turned out in large numbers to pay their respects to the Great Young Man of the industry. Tina Ambani who worked with Dev Anand in her first film Des Pardes left the auditorium in tears.
We spoke to members of the film fraternity who remember Dev Anand.
'Dev Anand was a very talented artist'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Randhir Kapoor: I am sad. Dev Anand was a very talented artist. We will always miss him; we will remember his pictures. I pray that wherever he is, he is happy. Dev Anand hamesha amar rahe!
'He was so much senior to me but he had perhaps more energy then I did'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Aamir Khan: He is someone we will all remember with lots of love and warmth, someone who has entertained us and was full of life and energy. I have done a film (Awwal Number) with him so I have very fond memories of him. He was so much senior to me but he had perhaps more energy then I did. He always led from the front. He was a very warm and loving person.
I was a newcomer in the industry just after the release of my first film (Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak) so for me to work with Devsaab was unbelievable.
My favourite song of Dev Anand is Main Zindagi Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya, Har Fikr Ko Dhuein Main Data Chala Gaya from Hum Dono.
'Devsaab was a thorough gentleman
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Hema Malini: What do I say about Devsaab? He was such a wonderful person, a thorough gentleman. I will always remember his beautiful smile and face.
I feel great that I worked with him in so many films. I have done seven or eight films with Devsaab, apart from Johnny Mera Naam.
Our association is very deep, very nice and friendly. I always admired his energy levels and the. way he worked constantly till the last minute.
My favourite song will always be Pal Bhar Ke Liye Koi Hume Pyaar Kar De from Johnny Mera Naam.
'Dev Anand is immortal'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Madhur Bhandarkar: Dev Anand is immortal; he was full of life, very energetic, very down to earth, very encouraging.
Devsaab will be missed not just in India, but all over the world. He would always say that it is his films that will keep him alive. He has been an inspiration for so many people he will always be remembered.
'I feel honoured that I interacted with Devsaab'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Amrita Rao: All of us are associated with the film industry and we have taken a lot of things from this industry, like name, fame and popularity. But Devsaab has only given to this industry.
His contribution to the golden era of cinema is remarkable. I feel honoured that I interacted with Devsaab and watched Jewel Thief and Guide with him.
'Devsaab may have passed away but his spirit will always live on through his films'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Ramesh Sippy: Devsaab may have passed away but his spirit will always live on through his films, and our memories of him. When you were with him you felt like a nobody, he could do so many things.
Whenever he met me he would say 'Ramesh, what next?' At the premiere of his last film, Chargesheet, he told me, 'I am already planning my next film.'
'He was a very good dad'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Suneil Anand: He never looked behind, and therefore, he always liked best his latest song and latest film. He told me 'Keep working and be happy. I want you to be successful. We will make films under the Navketan banner.'
He was a very good dad. He was very loving and forgiving. He was also very stylish.
He was planning his next venture and we were to scout for new locations in UK and Europe. We will make Hare Rama Hare Krishna's sequel. The script is ready. My dad worked in five English films too.
'dev Anand was truly my hero and I don't have many heroes'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Vidhu Vinod Chopra: The one thing that I want to say is he was truly my hero and I don't have many heroes; he was somebody that I looked up to.
He would write so much that there was a dip in his finger. I am grateful to God that I got a chance to sit with him in his study and talk to him for many hours. Everything he did was outstanding.
'Dev Anand He never spoke badly about another nor would he listen to bad things about others'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Prem Chopra: Devsaab has not got he is somewhere here, he is not gone, he was so active and lively, he was a source of great inspiration for everybody.
He was charged with energy on the sets. I have worked in many films with him, a few of which he has directed. He was a nice person and always involved in his work. He never spoke badly about another nor would he listen to bad things about others. Everything about him was special.
He worked in Mehboob Studio a lot. There is a make-up room allotted to him here. Even now, when he went to London, apart from getting himself checked, he went to write a script.
He died with his boots on.
'There are not many people in my life who are as courageous as Dev Anand'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Shekhar Kapur: He was the star when I was growing up. I love his films. Devsaab never gave up in life. It's a loss for the industry, people as courageous as him shouldn't go away. There are not many people in my life who are as courageous as him. My favourite song is Gaata Rahe Mera Dil from Guide.
'Dev Anand was full of enthusiasm'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Divya Dutta: I don't think I am here for a condolence meet, I think he is somewhere here because he was full of enthusiasm. My last image is of watching Chargesheet with him. He had that lovely glint in his eyes, and there was a glow about him. I was treated like a princess on the sets. He will always be there for us.
'Whenever I see Dev uncle's photo I feel as though he is smiling'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Kalpana Lajmi: There shouldn't be bhajans at a condolence meet for Dev Anand. His songs should be played and the whole thing should be colourful because he was dynamic, energetic and colourful.
I think when we think of him, we should celebrate him with happiness and glee. Whenever I see Dev uncle's photo I feel as though he is smiling at us and saying get up, sing and dance my songs. I love his Tere Mere Sapne from Guide.
I've known him since I was a kid. As you know, he gave my uncle Guru Dutt a break and I feel that I am here because of him. He has always been like a guardian to me and I have very fond memories of him. I will always remember him as the finest gentleman in the industry.
'Dev Anand was so young in his heart'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Jagdeep: I think he is still here; he was so young in his heart. I worked with him in Madhubala when I was just nine years old. Madhubala was also in the film and for me it's his most memorable film. I also worked with him in Bullet.
Javed Jaffrey: I did a movie with him called Lashkar around 22 years ago; Aditya Pancholi, Sumeet Saigal and Hemant Birje were also in the film. In the middle of the 38 degrees heat in Mumbai, he was wearing a black shirt and standing in the sun. We were young but after every shot we would run and sit under the umbrella. But he would be standing up and calling us 'Come on boys, let's go.'
The amount of positivity that man had and that joie de vivre, I have not seen that in anybody. For me, that is the biggest inspiration and I wish I have the same when I grow old.
'Devsaab was the most positive young person that I have known'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Yash Chopra: Devsaab was the most positive young person that I have known. I have never heard even one word against him. I am fortunate to have worked with him. He was a star in his first film and he was a star in his last film too. He never played a character role. We never imagined that one day Devsaab won't be there.
'There is no one like Devsaab in Bollywood'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Baapi Lahiri: I have worked in six films with Devsaab. He was my inspiration. I am a playback singer because of him. In this very Mehboob Studio, I worked with him in Sache Ka Bol Bala, Sau Crore, Love at Time Square, and Mr Prime Minister.
There is no one like Devsaab in Bollywood. I have worked with Vijay Anand, I worked with Shekhar Kapoor too, so I am associated with his whole family. I feel like my uncle is no more.
I will dedicate the song which is Devsaab's favourite, Chalte Chalte (from the film Chalte Chalte) to him.
'Our entry into the film industry is because of Devsaab'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Abbas-Mustan: Our entry into the film industry is because of Devsaab. He was our inspiration. We loved his film Jewel Thief and Kala Pani. It is not just a loss for the industry, it is our personal loss. When we last met him he appreciated our work. May his soul rest in peace.
'He worked till his last breath'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Kabir Bedi: We shot for a film in Nepal and I admired the way he shot in a tough environment About one-and-a-half years ago I went to meet him to pay my respects to him. That was my last meeting with him. He worked till his last breath and he had lots of love for everyone.
Dev Anand was a remarkable person. There were three gods in the 50s and 60s--Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand. I am from that era so my memories are of them and of Dev Anand in his prime.
For me, Dev Anand can never die because whenever I want to see him, I can watch his films and see him laughing and enjoying.
'I believe in the spirit that he believed in, that life has to go on'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Honey Irani: I am at a loss for words. I was such a very huge fan of his work. I believe in the spirit that he believed in, that life has to go on. God bless his soul. I have so many favourite movies of Devsaab-- Asli Naqli, Jyoti, Tere Ghar Ke Samne and one of my most favourite songs is Khoya Khoya Chand from Kala Bazaar.
'Devsaab never learned how to stop; he was like a river'
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Raza Murad: Devsaab never learned how to stop; he was like a river, always flowing. Devsaab believed that life should always be on the move. I met him on March 26 this year at the Pune FTII's golden jubilee ceremony. He was very happy and recalled his days in Pune working with Prabhat Film Company and eating at his favourite hangout in Pune, Good Luck.
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