Agencies
London, Sep 4: The autobiography of evergreen Bollywood actor and film producer Dev Anand -- Romancing With Life -- will be formally released on his 84th birthday on September 26 in New Delhi by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The London launch of the book, published by Penguins, will be done on October 13, Dev Anand said in London today. The living legend of the Indian Cinema took nearly three years to write the autobiography.
"My life is an open book. I have seen all phases in life, and I am very unique - I am yesterday, today and tomorrow. I have seen India's independence and Gandhiji's assassination," the excited actor said.
Born in Gurdaspur in undivided Punjab, Anand graduated in English literature from the government college, Lahore. His love for acting made him leave his hometown for Mumbai -- the centre of the Hindi film industry.
He got his first break as an actor in Prabhat talkies film 'Hum Ek Hain' (1946), and two years later, his favourite star, Ashok Kumar, picked him as the hero in the Bombay Talkies production 'Ziddi', co-starring Kamini Kaushal which was a hit.
In 1949, Dev Anand turned producer and launched his own company Navketan, which continues to churn out movies. Though his maiden venture at direction 'Prem Pujari' flopped, his second directorial effort 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' in 1971 was a big success.
Some of his box office hits included 'Kala Pani' (1958), 'Guide' (1966), 'Jewel Thief', 'Johnny Mera Naam' and 'Taxi Driver'.
Dev Anand married actress, Kalpana Kartik, and the couple have a son, Suneil. He was romantically involved with singer-actress Suraiya and the two of them paired in six films together.
His first film in colour, 'Guide' with Waheeda Rahman was based on the novel of the same name by R K Narayan. The impetus for making a film from the book came from Dev Anand himself, and he met and persuaded Narayan to give his assent to the project.
Dev Anand tapped his friends in Hollywood to launch an Indo-US co-production that was shot in Hindi and English simultaneously and was released in 1965. This is regarded by many as his best work to-date.
He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2001 and received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award for cinematic excellence in 2002.