Dev Anand's 100th birth anniversary: Zeenat Aman calls her late co-star 'a dynamo beyond compare'

On this occasion, Zeenat Aman, who is now an internet sensation for her stylish Instagram posts, dropped a couple of pictures with a long note for her late co-star.

Zeenat Aman writes, "Celebrating 100 years of Dev saab. Stylish, suave and prolific, he was a dynamo beyond compare. And what generosity of talent! He sparked careers (mine included), brought together creative heads, and made films that resonated across generations.

"It gladdens my heart to see his legacy honoured an entire century since his birth. In recent days, I’ve been overwhelmed with requests for comments about him but there is little to add to what I’ve already said."

Adding to this, Zeenat Aman, who was first introduced to silver screens by Dev Anand, said, "Though, I posted a three-part series about him just a few weeks ago, I can’t resist the nostalgia of these two frames from our earliest films together.

"They will be instantly recognisable to my older followers, but I’m not so sure about you younger lot!"

Dev Anand, who is one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema, made his debut with 1946 film 'Hum Ek Hain'. He first gained recognition with 1951 film Baazi'.

Among his successful films are 'Jaal', 'Taxi Driver', 'Insaniyat', 'Kala Pani', 'Kala Bazar'.

While he gained the fame of a romantic hero in the 1960s with 'Manzil', 'Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai', 'Hum Dono, he achieved a huge feat with 1965 film 'Guide', which was based on a novel by R.K. Narayanan.

Among his hits in the 1970s and 1980s are 'Johny Mera Naam', 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna', 'Banarasi Babu', 'Heera Panna', 'Lootmar' et al.

Zeenat Aman's write up for Dev Anand

Following Zeenat Aman's Instagram profile, one will be aware of how she beautifully and aesthetically articulates her own stories with film personalities with whom she has had a camaraderie.

One such post was centred on Dev Anand, who gave Zeenat Aman her first break with 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna'.

In one of the parts of her long post on Instagram, Zeenat Aman narrated how she and her family were stopped by Dev Anand from leaving Mumbai and she eventually made her entry into Bollywood.

She wrote, "It was 1970, and I think O P Ralhan was feeling quite sorry for me. He had given me a bit part in Hulchul, it had made little impact, and I was already packing my bags to relocate to Malta with my mother and stepfather."

She added, "Dev Saab and his Navketan team were casting for Hare Rama Hare Krishna at the time. In his largesse, O P Ralhan suggested that they meet me. I vividly remember what I wore that day. A fitted yellow top, a fawn-coloured skirt and glasses with yellow frames.

"My mother was at the meeting (remember, I was still in my teens). So she held forth, while I spoke when spoken to, and packed tobacco into my pipe. The meeting concluded, and a few days later the landline jangled. I was asked to come for a screen test, and that is how I came to be cast as Jasbir/Janice."

Further in the post, Zeenat Aman shared how she had got the chance to feature in Hare Rama Hare Krishna.

Zeenat Aman wrote, "Oh, but the saga doesn’t end here. My family was ready to depart the country, but Dev saab persuaded my mother and I to delay our travels. So instead we flew to Kathmandu, stayed at the famous Soaltee Hotel, and waited long days to be called to set to shoot! I was frothing at the bit by the time it was finally time for my scenes. The first of which was a bus sequence. It makes me laugh to watch it now because I know I’m practically spitting out my lines in my impatience to prove myself!"

She added, "In those days it took much longer to make a film from start to finish. Two or three years even. My mother and I once again prepared to leave Mumbai, and yet again Dev Saab persuaded us to stay. He promised to edit quickly and get the movie into the cinemas. Sure enough, the film released, it became a huge hit, and I became a star.

"My immigration plans were now indefinitely postponed, and Dev Saab started writing another script with me in mind…"