Many might not know it but Dev Anand was discovered by Ashok Kumar and given his first break and he landed the lead role in Bombay talkies. This favour might have stuck with him as he gave many such breaks to struggling artist in the film industry. So much so that he even helped Guru Dutt with his career, as was decided among them. This charismatic man mesmerised us with his good looks, his unique style and his films. He has been a pioneer from the very beginning. Always liked to do things his way, his first colour film was Guide with Waheeda Rehman. It would not be false if one says that Guide happened because of the actor. It was Dev Anand who persuaded the writer RK Narayan and got permission to take up the novel. He also collaborated with his friends in Hollywood to launch an Indo-US co-production that was shot in Hindi and English simultaneously and was released in 1965. The film directed by his younger brother, Vijay Anand, was an acclaimed film and one of his best works till date.

The man himself got success as a director with Hare Rama Hare Krishna that ushered in the age of hippies in India. As already said he was a trendsetter, and with Hare Rama Hare Krishna’s title song, big shades, floral prints and beads became a rage on the fashion front in India. There were a few misses in his career but his hits covered everything up. Always different, this man also stood up against Indira Gandhi during the period of emergency and became involved with politics. Although his latest films were not box office hits but even on this birthday he says that the next script of his film is ready and he is still discovering things to do and there is so much to learn.