Actress and politician Hema Malini paid tribute to the legendary actor Dev Anand on his 101st birth anniversary by sharing nostalgic throwback photos from their time together on film sets. On Thursday, she took to Instagram to commemorate the occasion, reflecting on her fond memories with the late star.
In her heartfelt caption, Malini recalled how Anand, who played the lead role in her second major release, helped ease her nerves when she was a newcomer in the industry. “I have such lovely memories of Dev sahab, who was in fact the hero of my second big release. I was raw and in awe, but he quickly put me at ease and behaved as if he was a good friend,” she wrote. She noted that Anand’s vibrant energy was infectious, creating a positive atmosphere around him.
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Malini reminisced, “I would never feel low or sad when he was around. Him calling me ‘Hema’ still reverberates in my ears. I truly loved him for the extraordinary person that he was and miss his warm presence even today. Happy birthday, Dev sahab.”
Dev Anand, celebrated as one of the most influential figures in Indian cinema, had a remarkable career that spanned over six decades, featuring more than 100 films. Last year, the Film Heritage Foundation and NFDC-NFAI organized a special film festival titled “Dev Anand@100 – Forever Young” to celebrate his centenary. The festival showcased four of his classic films—‘CID’, ‘Guide’, ‘Jewel Thief’, and ‘Johny Mera Naam’—across 30 cities in India, with the films restored in 4K resolution.
Anand received numerous accolades throughout his career, including four Filmfare Awards, two of which were for Best Actor. In recognition of his contributions to Indian cinema, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2002.
