by: Roshmila Bhattacharya

1946. Devdutt Pishorimal Anand had just landed his first film, Hum Ek Hain by impressing the film's maker, PL Santoshi, with his audacious self-confidence. Learning that Santoshi was on the lookout for a new face for his new film, Dev had walked into his office without bothering about an appointment and on being told that sahab hadn't arrived yet had settled down to wait for him on the parapet of the building. Minutes later when Santoshi had driven into his office, he had been startled by the sight of a young man sitting on a parapet, casually swinging his legs. His amused amazement had increased when the dashing stranger had strolled up to him with careless nonchalance announced that he was Dev Anand and wanted to star in Santoshi's next film. A month later Santoshi's office had called Dev and invited him to test for the leading role in Hum Ek Hain along with 55 other hopefuls. Once again Dev's self-confidence worked for him and landed him an exclusive five-year contract at the princely salary of Rs 500 a month.

It was at Prabhat Studio when Hum Ek Hain was being shot that Dev Anand had met Guru Dutt Shiv Shankar Padukone. Without intending to it was their dhobi who introduced them to each other and laid the foundation for a friendship that blossomed over the years and resulted in films like Baazi, Jaal and CID. One morning after his dhobi had delivered his clothes, Dev discovered when dressing that one of the shirts wasn't his. Wondering about his missing shirt Dev reported for shooting only to find the film's young choreographer wearing it. Dev immediately walked up to the dance director and told him bluntly that he was wearing his shirt. Guru Dutt confessed that the shirt wasn't his but since he didn't have a spare he had been forced to wear it. The shirt gave the two something to laugh over and it wasn't long before the two were sharing hopes and dreams.

By the time Hum Ek Hain was through Dev Anand and Guru Dutt had made a promise to each other. Whoever hit big time first would give the other a break. Dev lived up to his promise first. Ziddi made him a star and he launched Navketan. Dev's elder brother, Chetan Anand, after whose son Ketan, Navketan was named, was signed to direct the company's first film, Afsar. Dev had borrowed Rs. 10,000 from a producer-friend to sign Suraiya, the highest paid star of the time. However, not even Suraiya could save this beautiful film from box-office disaster. Dev Anand then turned to his friend, Guru Dutt, to fulfill his side of the bargain he had made to his friend four years ago in Pune.

Baazi was a gamble again for Navketan. But this time it worked better than Afsar. Madan, the film's hero, was no hero. He was a loner and a social outcast... an anti-hero but he managed to strike a chord. The audience could empathize with his problems (he had a sister to marry off) and sympathize with his plight. He could be forgiven his faults because thanks to his good-as-gold girlfriend, Madan repented and reformed at the end. It was not an original story and the film certainly was not a masterpiece but it certainly was a trendsetter ushering in the era of stylish crime thrillers set in a big, bad city. Dev himself starred in half-a-dozen such films including Jaal, Pocketmaar, CID, Nau Do Gyarah, Kala Bazaar and Jali Note.

This Dev-Geeta Bali starrer marked not just the debut of Guru Dutt as a director, but also introduced Sahir Ludianvi whose beautiful poetry, Tadbeer se bigdi hui taqdeer bana de, Suno gajar kya gaya and Aaj ki raat piya set to music by SD Burman, made him a much-sought after lyricist.

Baazi whose screenplay was penned by Balraj Sahani, saw Zohra Sehgal in an unusual role of a choreographer and introduced Johnny Walker. It also was a beginning for Kalpana Kartik who became Mrs Dev Anand after a quiet shaadi on the sets of Navketan's first blockbuster, Taxi Driver.

Guru Dutt met his match during the making of Baazi too. He heard Geeta Roy during the recording of Tadbeer se bigdi hui and decided that this woman with the magical voice was his taqdeer. The two tied the knot on May 26, 1953.

Dev Anand kept his side of the bargain. But he cribs his friend never did. According to the promise they had made, if Dev Anand was to ever produce a film, Guru Dutt would direct it. And if Guru Dutt ever directed a film Dev Anand would be in it. Baazi was produced by Dev Anand's Navketan, and Guru Dutt directed it. CID was produced by Guru Dutt Films Pvt. Ltd. and Dev Anand played the lead in it. But, points out Dev Anand, Guru Dutt didn't direct it. Raj Khosla did. Guru Dutt never directed his friend.

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