15 Memorable Roles Played by Dev Anand

One of the most influential actors in the history of Indian Cinema,Dev Anand  had graced silver screen for over six decades. He had acted in 114 Hindi films, out of which 104 had him as the solo lead hero. An actor, writer, director and producer; he had proved his versatility in every field. In his acting career of 65 years he played many characters,here i am presenting some of his most memorable roles in hindi films.

 Raju in GUIDE (1965)-This role took Anand to the Zenith of his eventful career. He played a role of a Tourist Guide,never before in hindi films this character was played.Dev Anand in his style of acting and manerism made this role an immortal. His portrayal of a silver-tongued tourist guide who defied all traditions for his relationship with Rosie (Waheeda Rehman), and groomed her for a successful career as a dancer, takes the most unpredictable U-turn in the mid course of the movie.He was awarded the Best Hero Award by Filmfare.

Karan in KALA PANI (1958)-This role of a man on a mission to prove his incarcerated father’s innocence was a perfect show down answer. From a drunkard to a mischievous & playful boy,  As a son who discovers by sheer chance that his father is not dead but imprisoned, he turns in a restrained performance without much of the mannerisms that became a part of his repertoire later.this challenging role got him his first Best Actor award..

Hum Bekhudi Mei Tumko 

C.I.D. (1956)-Dev Anand plays Inspector Shekhar in this film.Dev's performance in this film is one of his most restrained. Dev Anand. What can one say? Gorgeous to look at, dashing, debonair... one can keep adding adjectives. As a man on the trail of an enemy who is lurking in the shadows, Dev keeps his Shekhar keen and focused, to the extent that he antagonises his girl friend; when asked to choose between his duty and her, he unapologetically chooses the former. 

Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar from CID

Mangal in TAXI DRIVER (1954)- Mangal, who is called "Hero" by his friends. A driver who drives a cab by day, then drinks at night, listens to the seductive club dancer Sylvie, and then goes into a drunken stupor - and wakes up with a hangover. One day, while assisting another taxi driver, Mangal comes to the assistance of a damsel in distress Mala, who is being molested by two thugs. Mangal gallantly rescues her, and attempts to take her to her destination, The film got Filmfare Award for Best Music.Dev Anand's taxi in the movie was the British made Hillman Minx black car with number 1111. Such became the popularity following the film that the British made Hillman Minx became a vehicle of choice as a taxi in Bombay until the 1970s.

Jaye to Jaye Kahan

Madan in BAAZI (1951)-The role of Madan, a minor gambler who unintentionally gets involved in a murder mystery, made Dev Anand one of the most popular stars of his generation.After Ziddi in 1948 this was a super hit of Dev Anand which established him Super Star.He ruled bollywood for the next 3 decades.

Scene from Baazi

 Major Verma & Capt. Anand in HUM DONO (1961)-Double Role played by Dev Anand made this movie a classic.The song "Abhi Na Jao Chodh Kar Ki Dil Abhi Bhara Nahi"is an immortal song.Dev Anand played the roles of Major Verma and Captain Anand.Capt. Anand goes to deliver the sad news of Major Verma’s demise to his family, but is mistaken as his lookalike and is forced to take his place. 

Scene from Hum Dono

 Architect Rakesh Anand Kumar in TERE GHAR KE SAMNE (1963)- Dev Anand Plays an Architect Design Houses for his father and the Heroine's father simultaneously.But their fathers are rivals, and the two of them must convince their parents to live in harmony. Dev Anand’s nonchalantly clumsy mannerisms and a suave urbane personality is to die for.

Scene from Tere Ghar Ke Samne

Dil Ka Bhanwar Kare Pukar

 Johny in JOHNY MERA NAAM (1970)-A story of two brothers (Mohan & Sohan) who excel in boxing. Their father, a police inspector gets killed by a goon. While Mohan (Pran) avenges his father, Sohan (Dev Anand) goes on to becoming a CID officer, who solves his cases taking up different guises. He takes the identity of Johny, a petty thief and gets himself in jail to solve another case. It is considered a Dev Anand classic.This Golden Jubilee thriller was the first Indian film to cross a commercial milestone—it did Rs. 50 lakh business per territory when tickets were priced at a maximum Rs 2.50Paisa.

Pal Bhar ke Liye

Prince Amar in JEWEL THIEF (1967)-Vinay (Dev Anand), is an ordinary young man who finds himself constantly mistaken for a look-alike jewel thief named Amar. Vinay works with the police to impersonate Amar and crack his crime ring, but it seems that Amar has decided to impersonate Vinay, as well, and soon their true identities are thoroughly muddled.The film became a box office hit.The song "Hothon Mein Aisi Baat"became immortal.

Raja As Gambler in GAMBLER 1971-Raja (Dev Anand) has been abandoned by his biological mother at a very young age, and grows up with Master (Jeevan), a criminal don and card-sharp, who would like Raja to continue working with him on a commission basis.Raja meets Chanda Gangaram (Zaheeda) daughter of a wealthy industrialist and her uncle (Ifthekar)is also the city's police commissioner.Raja takes a liking to her at the very instant though she does not reciprocate, her uncle notices Raja's face to be familiar but ignores the suspicion.

Mera man Tera Pyasa

Prashant Jaiswal in HARE RAM HARE KRISHNA (1971)  This is a Montreal-based family of the Jaiswals, consisting of mom, dad, son, Prashant, and daughter, Jasbir. Due to differences, Mr and Mrs Jaiswal separate, leaving Jasbir with dad, and Prashant with his mom. Eventually Prashant and his mom travel to India, leaving father and daughter behind in Montreal. Years later, Prashant has grown up to be a pilot. He has received a letter from his dad that Jasbir, who had rebelled and left home, is now located in Kathmandu, Nepal, with a group of hippies. Prashant decides to find his sister and hopefully get her back to the family. When Prashant lands in Kathmandu he does not find Jasbir, but instead finds Janice, who is indeed his sister with a new name. Janice lives with the hippies in the property rented out by local landlord Drona.Prashant  tryed to convince her that he is her brother, who she had been told dead long back.The music of the film was composed by Rahul Dev Burman and the lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi. The songs, "Dum Maro Dum" and “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” were instant hits with the youth 

Scene from Hare Rama Hare Krishna

Ramesh as paying guest in PAYING GUEST 1957

Ramesh who has been thrown out of his room by his exasperated landlord. (He hasn't paid the rent for six months; one can't really blame the poor guy.) He meets his friend and ask him to help.Ramesh goes off to see if he can get other accommodation. He is in luck; there's a room available, but the landlord wants a character certificate from Ramesh's previous landlord. When he takes up residence, he is disturbed by noises from the room above. When he tries to stop it by tapping on his ceiling from below (ending by poking a hole in it), he is faced with a beautiful virago (Nutan) who warns him that this is a 'shareefon ka mohalla' (respectable locality).Here also he had to vacate the room.Now once again he was lookout for accomodation. He takes another accomodation in disguise of an old man because the owner that house was not willing to give rooms to young people.Dev Anand plays Ramesh with an innocent goodness – with his gap-toothed grin and laid back charm, he was the perfect lover. 

Chodd do yeh Aanchal

 Tony in JAAL (1952)- The story moves around Carlos & Maria’s family, and the two strangers who enter their lives, Lisa and Tony. Maria falls in love with Tony, and is warned constantly about his wrongdoings and the disaster she is embracing. But, that doesn’t effect her love for Tony.This movie was another Successful movie of Dev Anand and Guru Dutt. After Baazi, this was the second film in which Dev Anand also came through as an actor with a unique style of his own.

Scene from Jaal

 Gora  a Revolutionist in Faraar (1955)-For some obscure reason it was subtitled “Dev Anand in Goa” for the reissue, ostensibly because in the interregnum three more films with the same title had hit the market at regular intervals. Another plausible reason could be this was the evergreen star's second and last visit to Goa for shooting. Gora (Dev Anand) is part of a group of revolutionaries who set the bomb the previous night. The police are searching for him, but Gora manages to reach the headquarters. 

Har Ek Nazar

Prannath Kashyap (Dev Anand), a press reporter in Solva Saal 1958

Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman bring a lot to this film, not least their very comfortable equation with each other. Waheeda makes her Laaj believable, being neither too 'innocent' nor too much of a smart-mouth. Dev is Dev, young and handsome, and very comfortable in his own skin. Together, they provide us with two characters whom we are willing to invest in, and whose romance is something we root for.