Let the world remember you by your deeds: Dev’s last words to friends

Bollywood's evergreen star Dev Anand, who died in London early morning on Sunday, had a very simple but profound message for his friends and relatives in Pathankot: "Aisa kaam karo ki duniya yaad kare (Let the world remember you by your deeds)". And this was the last message that his friends and relatives got from the debonair hero a few days before his birthday on September 26.

On Sunday, one of his relatives Avinash Puri recalled what Dev Anand told him over phone from Mumbai and had even recorded it for posterity.

Puri remembered that in 1977, Dev Anand on his way to Chamba in Himachal Pradesh halted at his place in Pathankot and took them for the shooting of his film Sahib Bahadur.

"He was down to earth and humble and used to offer all kinds of help to needy people," said Puri, adding they used to celebrate his birthday in Pathankot every year.

Vinod Anand, a grandson of Dev Anand's uncle and who is settled in Allahabad, said he was very helpful when relatives or people known to him wanted see his shooting and always invited them to the sets.

"He was a real gentleman and once a person met him, he became his fan instantly. Besides his films, the most outstanding and memorable trait of Dev's persona was his humility that endeared him to everyone he met," said Vinod, who had come to visit his in-laws in Pathankot.

Badal, Amarinder pay tributes

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of a "world class actor and an immortal Punjabi" Dev Anand. In a condolence message, Badal described Dev Anand as an "icon and an artist who defied age". Dev Anand symbolised indomitable and tireless spirit of Punjab, added Badal. Amarinder Singh said in Dev Anand's death the Indian cinema had lost a great icon who was so proud of being a Punjabi at the same time. Amarinder said Dev Anand represented a distinct genre in Indian cinema and he was the only surviving link between the past and present of the Indian cinema.

... contd.

ALSO READ

A Martyr’s Diary

Baying for Bansal’s blood, ABVP members canecharged

Parties take to streets, demand Bansal’s resignation, say shamed City Beautiful

Civils: Panchkula doc bags 17th rank in first attempt