The house in which late actor Dev Anand lived for 40 years with his wife, Kalpana Kartik, children Suneil and Devina, has been sold, we have exclusively learnt.

The bungalow, located in Juhu (Mumbai), has been sold to K Raheja Corp, who earlier purchased director-producer B R Chopra’s family home in the same area. “The deal for Dev Anand’s home is done and paperwork is going on. It has been sold for approximately Rs. 350-400 crore,” a source tells us.

To this, another source adds, “Actors Madhuri Dixit Nene and Dimple Kapadia once lived in the apartments around the bungalow. The place will now be replaced by a tall tower with 22 floors.”

The sources further tell us that the house is being sold as there is no one to look after it: “His son Suneil stays in the US and daughter Devina lives in Ooty with her mother. There is no one in Mumbai to take care of the property and hence, they have taken the decision to sell off the bungalow. In fact, they even sold off their property in Panvel for the same reason.”

The source adds that the veteran artiste’s studio was sold 10 years ago and the proceeds were used to buy three apartments, one each for his wife, son and daughter. “For the Juhu property too, everyone will get a share,” the insider shares.

In an interview he gave in the 2000s, Anand — who would’ve turned 100 on September 26 this year — had said that he decided to build a house in Juhu in 1950 as he fell in love with its “total wilderness”. 

To celebrate Dev Anand’s birth centenary, the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) has curated a film festival for his fans, titled ‘Dev Anand@100 – Forever Young’, that will bring the superstar’s iconic films back to the big screen. The two-day film festival will be held on Sept 23 and 24 in 30 cities. These films have been selected by the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) in collaboration with the NFDC (National Film Development Corporation of India) and NFAI (National Film Archive of India) which restored these films. I&B and FHF officials say that the idea behind this festival is to reintroduce Dev Anand’s films to a new generation and rekindle nostalgia for those who love his films.

After ‘Bachchan Back to the Beginning’ and ‘Dilip Kumar – Hero of Heroes’ last year, exhibitors along with Film Heritage Foundation and National Film Development Corporation, are organizing a film fest to mark Dev Anand’s birth centenary on Sept 23 & 24.

The films have been chosen to introduce the new generation to unforgettable Dev Anand characters – Inspector Shekhar in the thriller C.I.D., Raju, the tour guide, in Guide, Vinay/Amar in the spy thriller Jewel Thief and Johny Mera Naam’s Johny.

‘As Dev saab turns 100 this year, I still remember how his attitude and singular style in his performances would get us out of our hostel beds in the middle of the night, jump the boundary walls of the college to the nearest film theatre repeatedly, just to witness the magic of his charm and energy. And on our way back we would sing along with his songs, his deliveries of dialogue and create this wonderful world he had structured for us to be remembered forever.’

— Amitabh Bachchan

It is important for the public to witness Dev Anand on the big screen once again, just as they did during his heyday decades ago. The NFDC-NFAI is leaving no effort spared to ensure that these films are presented in the best possible way, with hundreds of restoration artists technicians, graders, DOPs, sound engineers and archivists, spread across multiple cities, are hard at work to once again bring these films to life. The restoration of the films is being undertaken as part of the National Film Heritage Mission and funded by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

-Prithul Kumar, MD NFDC and Joint Secretary (Films)

‘I’m delighted that the festival will open with Johny Mera Naam, the first film I worked on with him. He was already a megastar when I was cast in this film, but he never made me feel like a newcomer. Afterward, we worked on several films that became big hits. His unique and inimitable style was a delight to watch, not only for the audience but also for me. I have very fond memories of Dev saheb. There can never be another Dev Anand’

— Hema Malini

‘I grew up watching Dev Anand’s films. I have admired Dev saab since my childhood; he was my hero and mentor. He gave me my first break with Swami Dada (1982), and I was fortunate to work with him on several films. His energy surpassed even the youngest person on the set. I learned so much from him, and I am grateful that his films are preserved and restored so that young actors today can continue to learn and appreciate the work of a legend’

— Jackie Shroff

As we celebrate his centennial, I’d like to say that dad’s movies were decades ahead of their time. I’m confident that the fest will be a huge success, and newer audiences will rediscover the youthful magic of my father – who will forever stay young on screen

— Suneil Anand, Dev Anand’s son

As told to Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 29, 2018)

As a child living in a Teen Batti chawl near Grant Road in South Mumbai, I would wait for a film to release or the elections so my friends and I would get hired to paste posters on the walls. We would get paid four aanas for an afternoon’s work. To supplement my income, during Republic Day and Independence Day functions, I would sell peanuts and chana to those who gathered for the parades and flag-hoisting. We would save all the money and buy jalebis afterwards. On occasions, we would give ourselves a Sunday treat at ‘Chandu Halwai’, the mithai shop closeby. Our neighbour had a refrigerator, a luxury in those days, and would give us a plate of ice cubes. We would add them to tall glasses of Rooh Afza that we had pooled in our money to buy, and feel like kings as we sipped the red sherbet. My father sometimes contributed to our kitty so we could buy ourselves additional treats. My mother, on the other hand, would put any extra paisa into my piggy bank.

Two years after completing school, when I was around 19 or 20 years old, I got myself a job as supervisor at an export company. I had to check the garments for defects. I worked there for three months before my father got me a job in a travel agency. Trade Wings was in town, near the Jehangir Art Gallery. I did a three-month crash course in travel and tourism so I could land a proper job at the agency.

One day, while I was still working there, I caught the eye of a stranger as I was waiting at the bus stop. He walked up and asked me what I did for a living. I told him I worked at a travel agency nearby and the man informed hat he had a job with a marketing agency. In the course of our conversation he took me by surprise by suggesting that I should start modelling. He even offered to click my pictures and told me he would even pay me for them. I couldn’t believe my luck! I was being offered money to get photographed. It was a dream job! I went to this guy’s advertising agency in Flora Fountain for a photo session and went on to become a successful model.

My first commercial was for LD Obron, a suiting and shirtings brand. I still remember I got paid Rs 7,500 for the asignment. I gave my mother some of the money and spent the rest on myself.

I was given a black and white suit to wear. I didn’t have a cupboard to keep it. I would hang it up so it wouldn’t wrinkle. I guess I carried it off well because after the ad came out I went on to bag several more commercials.

I knew Asha Chandra ji who ran acting classes. She knew me as a model and tried to push me towards acting but I told her categorically that I was not interested. Dev Anand’s son Suneil was one of her students and one day she called me to watch him in class. Once I met Suneil, I knew I had to meet his father in person someday. I was a huge fan of Dev saab and hoping to befriend Suneil, I joined Asha Chandra ji’s institute and began my lessons in diction and acting.

One day, my wish came true. Dev saab spotted me on a hoarding one morning. That same evening, his son introduced me to him. It was pure providence and he surprised me by offering me a small role in his 1982 film, Swami Dada with Dev saab in the central role of a professional thief who convincingly passes off as a saint.

The following year, I was launched by Subhash Ghai as the leading man of Hero opposite Meenakshi Sheshadri. The film was a huge hit and after that there was no looking back for me. I have never asked God for anything but have been blessed with everything one could possibly ask for.


Jackie Shroff’s recent visit to Teen Batti included chatting up the local atta chakki owner; With parents at his childhood home (top)

Subhash K Jha (DNA; February 8, 2015)

Suneil Anand, the legendary Dev Anand's only actor-son is all set to revive his father's most well-known film Guide which was directed by Dev's brother Vijay Anand. Suneil currently is giving finishing touches to his new acting assignment.

He says, "Yes,we are looking at reviving Guide in a technically enhanced format with high-quality picture and Dolby sound. Guide is my dad's most beloved film. It's also the film closest to his fans' heart. The film's theme is timeless. So we do feel it would be the right thing to do."

Suneil is also looking at putting together a museum of his dad's artifacts and mementos garnered from his movies.

However he says this project is not likely to take off in the near future. "The museum would take time, as we need to go through a huge moment of requisite permission. So it's a little premature to talk about it."

Being the mythical Dev Anand's son has never been easy for Suneil. He was launched by his father in 1984 in Anand Aur Anand where Dev and Suniel played father and son. The last film that Suneil appeared in was Master in 2001. But now Suneil is back to acting.

"I've just finished filming for our New Hollywood Movie, Vagator Mixer, a joint venture between our home banner Navketan and Junix Entertainments Inc, LA. We're now in post-production. I play the lead and have directed the movie. My partner Deen Bakshi plays a pivotal negative character," says Suniel, adding that the film has a national and international cast.

"We'll be releasing the film in its original English language and also in Hindi. It will also be dubbed in some south Indian languages," promises Suneil.


Other Bollywood movies re-released


Mughal-e-Azam
The first black-and-white Bollywood film to be digitally restored, coloured and restored, the epic K Asif saga about a Mughal emperor's love for a courtesan, which originally released in 1960, returned to screens in 2004. Lead actor Dilip Kumar, who wasn't present at the film's original premiere attended the relaunch.


Naya Daur
The 1957 B R Chopra hit returned in 2007, coloured and re-mastered with the intention of making it accessible to a new generation. About the consequences of progress, this landmark film had Dilip Kumar famously racing a tonga against a bus.


Sholay
The 1975 revenge saga directed by Ramesh Sippy became a cult classic. It saw a re-release in 3-D in 2014. Ketan Mehta's company did the conversion with the help of international technicians. Lead actors Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra actively promoted the re-release.


Garm Hawa
This 1974 film by MS Sathyu about post-Partition India was initially denied a certificate by the Censor Board at the time. The Balraj Sahni-starrer, made originally at a budget of roughly Rs 10 lakh, cost about 10 times as much to restore as the negative was badly damaged. The sound quality was digitally enhanced at a studio in Los Angeles.

Nazia Sayed (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 6, 2015)

Yesteryear superstar Dev Anand's son has shelved a plan to house a commercial recording studio in the basement of the family's Pali Hill apartment after BMC's refusal to grant him required permissions.

Suneil Anand on Thursday told Mumbai Mirror that the basement will now be used to display all of his late father's memorabilia and only a small part of it will be used as a studio for his personal use.

42, Anand -- as the multi-storied building in which the family occupies the ground floor and the basement is called -- is located on the plot where Dev Anand's Navketan Studio once stood.

Dev Anand had bought the 19,000 sq ft land in the early '50s and established the recording studio - Anand Recording Studio - in 1986 to mix and dub films produced under his Navketan Films banner. Specialising in voiceovers, dubbing and surround mixes, the studio was one of the premier sound and dubbing facilities in the city at the time. It was also a second home to workaholic Dev Anand in the last 22 years of his life.

When the land went for redevelopment, the studio was moved to a bungalow on the Zig Zag road. Five years back, the studio shut down. Since Dev Anand wanted to see the studio up and running again, it was decided to move it back to the basement of the new building. However, the plan ran into opposition from local residents and eventually the BMC decided to hold back a host of clearances.

Suneil Anand has now begun working on a museum dedicated to his late father. "There will be a proper library which will house books on the late actor. His memorabilia, including the trademark jackets, hats and pipes, will be displayed in the museum," he said. The museum will also house his awards and the original reels of his famous movies like The Guide, Jewel Thief, Johny Mera Naam.

Department that okayed project under scanner as BMC rules say a basement can be used only for storage or parking and not commercial purposes Pali Hill residents up in arms against basement studio
Nazia Sayed and Pandurang Mhaske (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 19, 2014)

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 12, 2014)

Suneil Anand is determined to revive Dev Anand’s banner Navketan Films and has been busy shooting a 100-minute English film sans any song and dance, Vagator Mixer, in Goa with a cast and crew from Hollywood.

While he is busy with the film, which also stars him in the lead, Anand studio is also getting ready for a second innings.

There have been rumours about the studio being sold off but Suneil insists that there is no truth in them.

 “I have a legacy to take forward. The show will go on. The studio is presently being upgraded and renovated and we should be able to reopen it in four months,” he says.

After completing Vagator Mixer, Suneil plans to commit to celluloid some of the scripts his father has left behind.

“Before he passed away, dad and I felt the time was right to make a Hollywood film. He has left behind six scripts and I’d like to turn each into a movie. But the concept of Vagator Mixer is mine and I’ve worked with two American writers on the screenplay. We have about 20 per cent left to shoot which we will complete in Los Angeles,” says Suneil, who plans to wrap the film up by the year end.He intends to release it worldwide. In India he plans to dub it in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

Asked if there are any plans to re-release any of the Navketan classics in colour, he says,“None as of now but if I had to pick up one, it would be Tere Ghar Ke Samne. A story I would like to take forward is the slickly made, interestingly written Jewel Thief.”

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; February 5, 2014)

It appears that apart from Dev Anand’s son Suneil, Reliance Entertainment is also keen to carry forward the legacy of the late actor-filmmaker, who passed away in December 2011.

Buzz doing the rounds has it that the production house wants to take over his banner Navketan, the Anand recording studio and the negative rights of 32 of his films.

Says a source, “Things are under wraps and no one wants to talk about it yet.” Interestingly, in 2009, the evergreen hero’s landmark — Anand Studio at Pali Hill, Bandra — went in for redevelopment. When asked about it back then, Dev Anand had just mentioned that the concerned person was a dear friend. Sources at that time had claimed that Reliance was involved in the redevelopment.

This time, Suneil didn’t say much either. “I don’t know who is spreading these rumours. I am currently busy with my film, Vagator Mixer. It has a Hollywood crew and is being shot abroad,” he said, adding that work on the redevelopment of Anand Studio is still on.

One may recall here that Dev Anand discovered Tina Munim after she won a beauty pageant and cast her in his 1978 film Des Pardes.

She later acted with him in two other films — Lootmaar (1980) and Man Pasand (1980). Reliance Entertainment is part of her husband Anil Ambani’s group of companies.