Dev Anand's First Tryst with Stardom A Tribute To His 100th Birth Anniversary
Watch Lehren’s flashback interview with Dev Anand, which explores the pivotal moment when fate smiled upon the Baazi actor, granting him his first break in Hindi cinema.
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00:00 Dev Sahab, on behalf of Lehren, I want to wish you once again.
00:03 Thank you.
00:04 Happy Hathi Day.
00:05 Okay.
00:06 You have your first film, Hum Ek Hai, how did you get it?
00:10 How did I get it?
00:14 Oh, I have to go in 1945.
00:22 And what does 1945 mean?
00:25 How many years have passed?
00:26 A little.
00:27 Someone told me that there is a film producer in some office, he wants a boy and he is making a film.
00:36 So I got an idea and I took my overcoat.
00:39 It was raining in July and I got on the train and I got down at Charni Road.
00:44 And I saw the office board and I sat with a watchman.
00:52 I asked him, "Where is sir? Which film maker is he?"
00:56 He said, "What work do you have? I want to meet him."
00:59 I said, "You can't meet him."
01:01 He said, "Why can't I meet him? I don't meet people."
01:03 I said, "If you meet him, why won't you meet me?"
01:05 At this time, Bhai Sahab came.
01:06 Babura Bhai was the producer, very big man, of Prabhat Film Studios in Pune those days.
01:11 And so happened that at that very moment, Bhai just dropped in.
01:16 And he went in and stopped for a while and looked back at me and I smiled and he smiled back.
01:24 And then he went in and he called the chowkedar, "Who is this boy sitting here?"
01:29 He said, "Sir, he wants to meet you. Bring him in."
01:33 I went in. "What is the matter?"
01:35 "Nothing, I heard you want to give a break to a boy. It's a role of a hero.
01:38 I am a 21 year old young man. I think I deserve it."
01:41 He started laughing. I started laughing too.
01:43 He was laughing at me. He was laughing.
01:46 He said, "You can come the day after tomorrow." I said, "I will come."
01:48 Day after tomorrow, I went back. Rajkumar Santoshi's father, P. L. Santoshi, was the director of the film.
01:56 He was from our village. He came and he liked me.
01:59 He gave me the ticket for the first, last, deck and queen.
02:01 I went to Pune, I gave the audition and I was in.
02:03 So this was not a letter of recommendation.
02:08 It was a straight gate crashing with a tremendous amount of confidence.
02:14 The moral of the story, the moral of the story, don't ever lose your self-confidence.
02:21 A person who loses his or her self-confidence is a defeated person.
02:27 And don't let anybody lose that self-confidence.
02:33 A person who makes you lose that self-confidence is your enemy.
02:36 That's it.
02:40 In 1944-45, you made your debut.
02:45 45, 45, 45-46 and in 47, India-Pakistan was divided.
02:50 And I came from Lahore. And my college was in Lahore.
02:54 I went back to Lahore two years ago.
02:57 And after 55 years, I came to the same college.
03:00 So that's my story. There's a lot to say, a lot to say, a lot to say.
03:05 Mumbai has changed a lot. I am the first inhabitant of Mumbai.
03:11 Bombay, Bombay was, those days, Bombay presidency.
03:14 Gujarat and Maharashtra were one at that time.
03:17 All these changes have come in front of my eyes.
03:20 All the political changes. Good or bad, only time will tell.
03:23 It's very difficult for me to say right now.
03:25 Because I am not a political man. But time will tell you.
03:28 People consider you to be the most stylish actor. What do you consider yourself to be?
03:33 I consider myself to be myself.
03:41 I don't know what style is.
03:46 I am talking to you right now, if I have a style or not.
03:49 And I am what I am on the screen. Totally.
03:54 So maybe this is what people like.
03:56 So some people like what I like.
03:59 Although I am not perfect. Nobody is perfect.
04:02 And perfection is nowhere.
04:04 There are many bad things in someone.
04:07 And there is a good thing that looks very good.
04:11 That person looks outstanding.
04:13 And there are many good things in someone.
04:15 There is a bad thing that looks very bad.
04:19 That person is a bad person.
04:21 So evidently, whatever I am, people must have liked me.
04:26 And I am very honest with myself when I am playing my roles.
04:29 And I am very honest with my profession.
04:32 And I think a lot about my work.
04:36 And I do it with a lot of thought.
04:38 I do it with a lot of thought.
04:41 I am not perfect.
04:44 But over the years, while working, I get a strange experience.
04:51 I am educated, I am a graduate, I am aware.
04:54 I have travelled the world, I have met people, I read books.
04:57 I am a writer, I am enlightened.
05:00 So I want to tell the world what I feel in that enlightenment.
05:04 If I don't say it now, when will I say it?
05:06 After so much experience, someone's experience came.
05:09 I have to make a film.
05:10 My career started in 45.
05:12 You are talking to me in 2001.
05:15 How long was the stardom.
05:18 In 49, the Nafketan started.
05:21 People came and went and came and went.
05:23 How many people took a break.
05:24 And I cast people, I enjoy it.
05:28 And every film I make, in my opinion, is better than the previous film.
05:31 I don't know what the world says about it.
05:34 Maybe the world is left behind.
05:36 It is possible.
05:37 But when such a story is made, I will make it.
05:42 If it ever comes in the grip, then 25 years, people will not forget.
05:44 I will tell you.
05:45 Anyway, the film I made, people will not forget.
05:48 People are different.
05:51 Every film has a thought, a life experience.
05:55 I enjoy it.
05:56 And I have the facility, I have the knowledge.
05:58 I want to make it.
05:59 Why won't I make it?
06:00 Who is going to stop me?
06:02 Democracy is there, democracy is there.
06:04 No one else makes it.
06:06 And there is no one in courage.
06:07 People are afraid, they are afraid.
06:09 They are afraid of their fame.
06:10 They are afraid of losing money.
06:13 So I was like that.
06:16 I went to Pune for 400 rupees.
06:19 400 rupees per month.
06:20 I am a rich man.
06:23 No one can harm me.
06:25 I am so rich that I am the richest in the world.
06:29 I have so much experience.
06:31 That is why I always want to say something.
06:33 I read and see what I think.
06:35 I say what I think.
06:37 I don't ask anyone, I ask my mind.
06:40 I ask my mind, I knock and knock.
06:44 Negative and cross in counts total.
06:47 I knock and go.
06:49 Because there is only one person who grows.
06:51 The rest are followers.
06:53 They go behind the flag.
06:54 There are so many opinion makers.
06:56 99.9% leaders, 99.9% followers.
07:00 Flock of sheep.
07:04 Which one works, which one doesn't work.
07:05 Neither you can say, nor can I say.
07:07 Neither the film maker knows.
07:09 There is a vibration about the film.
07:11 It takes the picture.
07:13 But if there is a little difference, it feels good.
07:16 If you want to say something, you should say it.
07:17 It is fun.
07:18 I am making Love and Times Square.
07:20 It is a love story, it will definitely work.
07:22 The element of love is such an emotion that every person has.
07:28 Who does not have love?
07:30 There is no controversy in this.
07:32 There is controversy in a thematic film.
07:36 If you catch a theme, it may be that the theme has to be taken up by people.
07:40 But when we have caught love, then there is love in people's hearts.
07:44 They will like it.
07:46 Love and Times Square is an Indian name.
07:49 Heart beats in love.
07:51 And whose heart does not beat?
07:53 In love.
07:55 Anand, the film maker and the actor, which one is more important to you?
08:01 Film maker.
08:02 Because it is the ultimate film maker.
08:04 An actor came, did the work and left.
08:07 Who made him do the work?
08:10 Script, role, director, camera man photographed.
08:15 Editor edited.
08:17 The film maker is the medium of the director.
08:21 And the director is the one who takes his idea and moves ahead.
08:25 For whom he feels and develops it.
08:28 Director is a big thing.
08:29 It is not an ordinary thing.
08:30 There are many directors.
08:32 But the meaning of a director is that you should have knowledge of acting, writing, screenplay, mass mind, poetry, photography, lyrics, prose.
08:41 What is the trend of the world?
08:43 You are handling 50,000 people in the crowd scene.
08:48 If you are not a leader, you cannot handle it.
08:50 That is my definition of a director.
08:54 It is not that a director comes and gets someone to fight, get someone to sing.
08:59 He takes four stars, joins two films and the film hits.
09:02 The world is crazy. The world knows nothing.
09:05 Do you consider Guide as your best performance on set?
09:12 People say so.
09:13 I will not make this comment.
09:15 If people like it, it will be good.
09:18 And if I sit on it and say that I have shot a lot in Guide, what is the matter?
09:22 Guide can make a big film. I always try. Who knows?
09:26 I am still living, still surviving.
09:29 I am still making pictures. You never know.
09:31 So don't underestimate me.
09:33 I am quite conscious.
09:35 I have to beat my standards.
09:37 I have to do it in acting, performance, direction, writing.
09:40 Every time my subject matter is different.
09:43 Censor was a fantastic picture.
09:46 The thought of Censor that I have taken,
09:48 no one has the courage to take it.
09:50 I took it without hesitation.
09:54 I have to say something about Censor that is in my heart.
09:58 But the problem of Censor was that it is not an identification in people's mind.
10:03 It is not a problem of people.
10:05 People's problem is eating, drinking, divorce, love, sister-in-law, brother.
10:10 These are problems of human mind.
10:12 They identify themselves.
10:14 They are separated. They are in love.
10:17 Censor is a very high-flown problem of a thought for a country, which I said.
10:22 And I said it. And the Censor passed it.
10:24 And the very fact that Censor passed it is my victory.
10:27 If there is a debate on censorship, go and watch my film.
10:32 I have said something that the world will watch.
10:35 And I was prepared for it.
10:36 Which means I am a courageous man.
10:38 I had the courage of saying something which I wanted to say and I said it.
10:44 So, it is a big hit to my mind.
10:47 And in writing, I think it is one of my best pieces.
10:50 I think I worked very hard.
10:52 Everyone has a difference of opinion.
10:56 If someone says something, it is very easy to destroy.
10:59 Very easy to criticize.
11:00 It is so difficult to construct.
11:02 (Question)
11:17 This is not right.
11:19 There are many good actors in the industry who are established.
11:24 I would like to make a film with them.
11:26 But it will take me three years to make a film.
11:28 This is the first thing.
11:30 And then I will go to their house and say, work in my film.
11:33 Give me three days in a month.
11:36 Give me four days.
11:37 It does not suit me.
11:38 There is so much talent in the world in India who do not get a break.
11:43 If Dev Anand gives, he is such a great man.
11:45 Do people give?
11:47 They do not give.
11:48 They were also stars in some time.
11:52 The ones who we give a break, they will also be stars after four years.
11:56 They will think that Dev sir gave us a break.
11:59 Is this a contribution or not?
12:00 And it is not a joke to work with new people.
12:03 You have to have knowledge.
12:05 You have to have experience.
12:06 You have to be very well experienced to be able to take work out of newcomers.
12:11 Absolutely raw.
12:12 And take risks.
12:13 The one who takes risks, he takes risks in good things.
12:17 He is a very great man.
12:18 (Question)
12:25 I gave him a break.
12:27 (Question)
12:29 We were friends.
12:31 I was new and he was new.
12:32 We said that when we produce a film, we will give you a scope of direction.
12:35 He said that we will also become directors and make you a star.
12:37 I formed Navketan and Guru Dutt was in Prabhat.
12:40 An assistant to Vishram Bedega.
12:42 He is a young boy and I liked him.
12:44 We are great friends.
12:45 So I invited him.
12:46 The game is being planned.
12:47 You come and make the game.
12:48 And he made the game a hit.
12:49 It became.
12:50 He established himself.
12:51 I am proud.
12:52 So, Navketan did not give anyone a break.
12:57 There is only one institution.
12:58 1949 to even now.
13:00 1949, officer, game onwards.
13:04 To now, Love at Times Square.
13:06 How many films?
13:07 How many crores of rupees I must have invested in this?
13:10 How many workers must have grown up?
13:12 How many stars must have been made?
13:14 Females, males, music directors, physicists.
13:17 There is a lot in it.
13:19 Otherwise, people stop after making four films.
13:21 They change the name of their company.
13:23 This happens.
13:25 Now my son will work.
13:26 Navketan is there.
13:27 I am still alive.
13:28 I am talking to you.
13:29 Navketan is there.
13:31 There is no bigger institution than this.
13:34 Nowhere in the world.
13:35 MGM is over.
13:36 Fox is over.
13:37 Prabhat is gone.
13:38 Fragment is gone.
13:39 So we are there.
13:40 I don't know what is the matter.
13:41 Maybe it is your blessing.
13:42 Or people have good wishes.
13:44 I don't know.
13:45 Or a big blessing of my inner self.
13:49 I have a blessing that Dev carry on.
13:51 Nothing will happen to you.
13:52 My mind is so strong.
13:53 I am totally motivated.
13:54 He is my God.
13:55 He is my God.
13:56 Is he God?
13:57 Where is God?
13:58 Have you seen him?
13:59 Have you seen him in the temple?
14:00 No.
14:01 It is God's feeling.
14:02 You go with that feeling.
14:04 You get excited with that feeling.
14:06 My feeling is here.
14:08 You became a director after 'Viren Pujari'.
14:14 Yes.
14:15 Do you think it was a welcome addition to the actor inside you?
14:18 I wanted to.
14:20 When an actor becomes a big star,
14:22 he gets lost.
14:24 He doesn't get good roles.
14:25 Other people catch him.
14:27 They push him from behind and make him a big star.
14:29 At that time, your growth is if you have the ability to write,
14:33 direction,
14:34 if you have learned mechanics,
14:36 you should switch over.
14:37 That's your prolongation of your own creative activity.
14:43 Otherwise,
14:44 a star comes,
14:45 stays for 15 years,
14:46 ends,
14:47 new guys come,
14:48 people forget.
14:49 People forget K.L. Sehgal,
14:50 people forget Preeti Raj,
14:51 people forget him,
14:52 people forget the Prime Minister.
14:54 But you are doing some creative work.
14:56 A star is not creative.
14:57 He is alive only by his acting.
14:59 A creative person is the one who wrote a role for a star.
15:02 He performed.
15:04 It is a great thing.
15:06 And the story he writes is a novelist.
15:08 He gives thought to the world.
15:10 And the world follows his thought.
15:12 So I think every strong actor,
15:14 when he becomes a very strong star,
15:16 his natural growth is to make his own pictures.
15:20 If he has the faculty,
15:22 those who haven't,
15:23 they retire as actors.
15:24 Those who have it,
15:25 they outgrow their status.
15:27 Finally, how would you describe Dev Anand?
15:32 As Dev Anand.
15:34 You have taken my interview.
15:39 And many people are listening to this interview.
15:44 And many people will watch it.
15:46 And you ask them,
15:50 Have you listened to and watched this interview of Dev Sir?
15:52 What do you think about Dev Anand?
15:54 Ask them.
15:56 (Music)
16:00 (dramatic music)