Dev Anand's birth centenary: Did you know how he used to address Dilip Kumar?

Legendary actor Dev Anand, known for hits like Guide and Baazi, would have turned 100 on Tuesday, 26 September. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, we remember another veteran actor Dilip Kumar who praised the iconic cinema personality for his remarkable nature. Kumar began his career in 1944 with Jwar Bhata. In 2011, when Dev Anand died, Dilip Kumar told The Hindu about how the former often gave ‘takes after takes’ for junior artists to ‘prove their worth’.

On the special occasion of Dev Anand‘s 100th birthday, let’s look at some of the most remarkable things that Dilip Kumar said about maestro.

Dilip Kumar on working in Insaniyat

In 2011, when Dev Anand died of a cardiac arrest at 88, his close friend Dilip Kumar opened up about working with him in SS Vasan’s Insaniyat. Recalling memories from the sets of the 1955 film, he told the newspaper that Dev Anand was very generous in adjusting his own dates to match his.

Dilip Kumar, who originally grew up as Mohammad Yusuf Khan from Peshawar, while shedding light further on Dev Anand’s nature added that he personally saw how he helped junior artists by giving take after take so they could prove their worth. “He never neglected anyone,” the veteran actor continued.

Talking about their relationship, Dilip Kumar revealed their friendship was such that they never missed each other’s family functions. In addition, they never allowed their profession or competition to affect their equation.

Dev Anand’s pet name for Dilip Kumar

Sharing details of their visit to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Dilip Kumar stated, “We discussed many issues together. Just as I addressed him as Dev, he addressed me as Lale.”

Dev Anand’s birth anniversary

In order to commemorate Dev Anand’s 100th birth anniversary, the National Film Development Corporation Of India (NFDC) and National Film Archive of India (NFAI) in association with the cinema chain PVR-INOX have inaugurated a special film festival. As part of the collaboration, at least 55 cinema halls across India are participating in the grand event. The actor’s hit films Johny Mera Naam, Guide, CID, and Jewel Thief will be screened during the festival.

Funded by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the restoration of the films for the festival Dev Anand@100 – Forever Young has been undertaken as part of the National Film Heritage Mission.