The indefatigable Dev Anand pauses to reflect on romance, optimism and his abiding love for his late younger brother Vijay Anand. 

There couldn’t be a better tribute to Dev Anand’s romantic prowess than Shah Rukh Khan listing Abhi na jaao chod kar (filmed on Dev and Sadhana in Hum Dono) as his favourite love track. That the octogenarian still has reserves of romance cannot be refuted. “My temperament is romantic. Agar dil mein romance nahin, to zindagi mein mazaa nahin,” explains Dev adding, “But love today has gone bold, there are no inhibitions …chupi chupi wali baat chali gayee hai.”

Anand hi anand
It’s been more than six decades since Dev debuted in 1945 (Hum Ek Hain) but he remains unflagging even as he readies for two new projects—Chargesheet (about police corruption) and Heartbeats are the Same—a love story in English. “I came from Lahore. I struggled for two-and-a-half years here. But my attitude was always positive. I’m never depressed. I believe in looking ahead. That’s why I’ve survived,” asserts Dev adding, “I’ll continue making movies from my heart. Jab tamanna khatam hojaygi tab aap bhi khatam ho jaoge.”

Discovering divas
Remind him that he has a discerning eye for talent referring to his discoveries Zeenat Aman, Tina Munim and Tabu and he rationalises, “My films are realistic and born out of happenings. If my script demands a newcomer, I don’t hesitate to take her. If your discovery becomes a success then you’ve made your million dollars. I conceived Hare Ram Hare Krishna in Nepal. I saw an Indian girl sitting on the lap of a hippie. I  based my script on her. It took me six months to discover Zeenat, my Janice—a girl who could smoke and dress the way she did and yet be Indian by birth.”

Energy-driver
Dev, who surges on unmindful of the speed-breakers along says, “I’m proud of every moment I’ve achieved. If something has gone wrong I take blame for that too. I’ve seen popularity since the early 50s—uski dhunki mein mazaa hai. Generations love me. I’ve never been a loser. Dev Anand is still there. As long as I’ve the capacity, I’ve the haq to continue working. Idle people will talk.” Revealing his child-like temperament the veteran shares, “I love collecting caps—bachchon jaisa hoon. I buy them from the US or even from the mountains, which I love going to. I’m a loner. What I imbibe in a crowd, I assimilate in solitude.”

Getting sentimental
The otherwise unruffled Dev gets emotional when speaking about his late brother and film-maker Vijay Anand who was eight years younger to him. “Main kabhi nahin roya kisiki maut par, the way I’ve cried for Goldie. He was a brilliant guy. We made a good team. He understood my personality. He grew in Navketan as a creative thinker and was ahead of his times.” And how would he like to be remembered? “It’s an egotistical statement, to say ‘I want to be remembered as…’— if you’ve inspired people through your personality, they’ll remember you. My zest for living is what I can leave behind. I am a man of today,” he ends.