Truly evergreen

A busy man,he finds it necessary to take time off and just spend it doing something different. “This is a good break. I will go back to my studio and continue working on Chargesheet,” he tells us.

Chargesheet will be out in the next couple of months. As usual,he has again cast at least four newcomers in the film. “I love working with newcomers because they are flexible as actors. But I do take responsibility for them,” he says while promising us that one of the actresses could just be the next Zeenat Aman.

Other guests at the resort,there to spend a quiet evening, get animated upon spotting the actor. One of them even wants to find out if he is the ‘real Dev Anand’.

Anand is today sporting a bright green shirt with his trademark scarf around his neck. Words tumble out in an effervescent flow of unstoppable energy and Anand’s love for films and acting is evident. “I play a CBI officer in Chargesheet. At this age,I do roles that would suit me,” he says while confessing that direction is his biggest passion. “Right from conception to completion,it is the most satisfying job,” he says,placing an order for sandwiches and tea. But Anand doesn’t really watch films unless somebody recommends them to him. However,he is well aware of the current crop of actresses. “Aishwarya is good and Katrina has a nice smile,” he grins.

The sight of the waves splashing on Aksa beach makes Anand nostalgic,who recalls his shooting stint in Malwan for Guru Dutt’s Jaal with Geeta Bali. “I had fenny for the first time upon Guru Dutt’s insistence. Soon after,I was to give a shot where I had to run into the sea holding Geeta’s hand. But I was so high that we went on running farther into the sea. Eventually Guru Dutt had to come and stop us,” he laughs out loud. More anecdotes flow as he reminisces about his flight from Lahore and the early days of struggle in Mumbai before he bagged his first on a payroll at Prabhat Talkies. “I then decided to start my own production house,Navketan,” says Anand. It was this struggle that motivated him to make his life and career worthwhile for as long as he possibly can. “My aim is to make movies for everybody. From the high-browed to the mass audience,everyone should connect with them,” he says,possibly hoping for Chargesheet to do well. “It is a very lonely job; it becomes even lonelier when you are waiting for the verdict. But I am always optimistic,” he says,biting into his sandwich. There is more to cheer for Anand whose blockbuster yesteryears film Hum Dono will soon be re-released in colour. “It is almost ready. It should be out during Diwali,” he says as he hums the famous song from the film Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhatha Chala Gaya. “This song simply sums up my life.”