Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
Nirupama Dutt
The more serious among the artists and artistes who were part of the Prime Minister's busload to Lahore have come back somewhat irked with the the populist presence of Dev Anand. This ambassador of eternal youth and stardom seemed to have got all the attention. He spread out his arms, as the Premiers of India and Pakistan met at Wagah, to shout out something as trite as the ``greatest moment in history''. But it became the quotable quote.
Then came a point that the septuagenarian actor, flanked by two PMs, was addressing the people. Arty folks needn't worry, for our man here has the power to steal even a political show. A week has passed since the return home and Dev Sahib continues to make news on his foray into Lahore.
Now what is the reason for such popularity, that too on both sides of the border? This is what puzzles people. After all, he was never an actor like Dilip Kumar. Nor even a film-maker of Raj Kapoor's calibre. He was not even a superstar in the manner of a Rajesh Khanna or an AmitabhBachchan.
Superstars, however, have come and gone but Dev Anand seems to be at the very top still, even though all he has done is make flop films for the past many years.
Well, what makes him a cut above the others is that special star quality which defies definition. It is either there or not there. But what is amazing is that it has been retained so long, for this star has held his sway over four generations. Making a rather dumb beginning, he strived hard to make the most of good looks and limited talent. Sometimes with his hair rising in that famous puff, other times with a toothy smile or a cap rakishly drawn over an eye.
Let others mock at him, I cannot. For I belong to the second generation of the star's fans. My scrapbooks would be full with his pictures and my pre-teen years full with him. He seemed to be more than real. A mythical character who could do the most amazing things. He could jump out of a train, land atop a car and start singing: Jab pyar kisi se hota hai. He was a genie ofsorts. He granted the gorgeous Asha Parekh a boon that whenever she wanted to see him, she just had to close her eyes and say ``Monty, Monty, Monty''. For sure enough, he would appear. We saw all this in black and white.
His success did not end with the pretty Parekh. He could even conjure up the talented Nutan in a glass of whiskey as in Tere Ghar ke Samne, have her sing a duet with him. Not satisfied with all that he would torment her by threatening to put an ice-cube into the glass. But he could be forgiven anything for it was he who sang to Nutan on the steps of the Qutab Minar: Dil ka Bhanwar Kare Pukar, Pyar ka Raag Suno in melodious Rafi's voice. The song is hummed even today.
It couldn't have done to miss any film by this magician. So as an 11-year-old, living with my brother in the Wellesley Roads Officer's Hostel off India Gate, I made it with my friends for an open-air show of his film outside the workers' quarters. It was a family planning propaganda film called Ek Ke BaadEk. I had completed my fauji quota of two films a month so permission could not be sought for the third. I thought that I would see only a bit of the film. But there was no getting away from the Dev dynamism even as he preached.
There was a major scene when I returned home for having everyone worried for being in so late. My explanation that it was a Dev Anand film did not quite impress my brother and what I got was a tight slap. But what was a slap for a glimpse of the ultimate hero. Since then, I have idolised many others. Literally Ek Ke Baad Ek. But never to the extent to risk a slap in the face. One is star struck in that sense only once.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------