Dressed in a denim jacket, teamed up with a scarf, the most stylish veteran actor Dev Anand is raring to go even at the age of 87, and is leading his life with providence and willpower.
“I never believe in looking back in life. Being in the industry for more than six decades, both as an actor and director, your mind becomes cinematic. It’s always filled with a million ideas. Thoughts flow through my head constantly. Suddenly a thought clicks, and I’m on to my next film, even if it risks my reputation or career. Be it good, bad or different, I’m happy that the script is original...that’s Dev Anand,” says the actor, who was in the city for the promotion of his upcoming film Chargesheet.
After penning an autobiography and down with three directorial ventures like Censor, Love at First Site and Mr Prime Minister, which sank without a trace, this legend is confident about his new film. “It is a suspense thriller where I play a CID officer. It’s based on public corruption. This film is close to my heart as it’s based on my life’s philosophy Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya,” he says with a smile.
The actor, who ruled hearts with his swagger, style and signature tilted hat, and redefined cinema with classics like Hum Dono, Jewel Thief, Hare Rama Hare Krishna and Guide, is somehow upset with the trend of making remakes of classics in Bollywood. Talking against the remake of Guide and Jewel Thief, he says, “These films are very close to my heart and are considered one of the most remarkable films in Indian cinema. There are many creative directors and they don’t need to fall back on remakes. Original ideas are much more fun and if they work well, they live for more than 50 years,” he says.
He thinks today’s filmmakers are lucky as they have works by great masters to fall back on. “Different filmmakers have different temperament and they are working accordingly. In our times, we relied on our own experiences to create movies. Today’s motion-picture makers are blessed. They are exposed to satellite television and the Internet. They can experience the best of world cinema.”
The actor will also be out with another version of Hare Rama Hare Krishna and is releasing his 1961 classic Hum Dono in the colour version on December 3.
“For Hare Rama...people want to see another version of it. The film will be made keeping in mind the present generation. That film was about drugs and hippies and the former is still prevalent. Besides, I also have six scripts ready, and would also like to pick up segments from my classics and make a movie called The Growth of Dev Anand as an Actor,” he says.
For someone, who has traversed through life without regrets, the legend wants to be reborn as Dev Anand again. “I feel young, but I still have many things to do and many stories to narrate. I feel I need another life to finish my work. I love the process of creating. Filmmaking is a very involved craft. Believe me, I still feel I have done nothing and have lot of energy to go far,” he adds.