'Dynamo beyond compare': Zeenat Aman celebrates 100th birth anniversary of Dev Anand

Dev Anand and Zeenat Aman

Dev Anand was a prolific actor who was loved by the masses. The star sparkled in a career that began before Independence and lasted into the second decade of the 21st century. He is well known for films like 'Guide', 'Jewel Thief', 'Johny Mera Naam' and Hare Rama Hare Krishan'.

On his centenary, Dev Anand's frequent collaborator actor Zeenat Aman took to social media to sing his praise and celebrate him. "Celebrating 100 years of Dev saab," wrote the icon sharing pictures from the film Hare Rama Hare Krishna and Heera Panna.

"Stylish, suave and prolific, he was a dynamo beyond compare. And what generosity of talent! He sparked careers (mine included), brought together creative heads, and made films that resonated across generations," she wrote in the caption.

"It gladdens my heart to see his legacy honoured an entire century since his birth. In recent days, I've been overwhelmed with requests for comments about him but there is little to add to what I've already said. Though, I posted a three-part series about him just a few weeks ago, I can't resist the nostalgia of these two frames from our earliest films together. They will be instantly recognisable to my older followers, but I'm not so sure about you younger lot," she added.

In her earlier posts from April, Aman did a three post series sharing insight into how Dev Anand shaped her career. Calling him a starmaker, Zeenat Aman revealed how the late actor's belief in her prevented her from leaving the country and made her into star with the film 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna'. She also spoke in detail about shooting 'Heera Panna' and 'Ishk Ishk Ishk' with the talented actor.

Aman also shed light on the misunderstanding that rose between them when she started working on Raj Kapoor's film 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'. "Years later, in 2007, ‘Romancing with Life', Dev Saab's autobiography hit the stands. In it he professed that he was in love with me, and insinuated that Raj ji and I had more than a director-actor equation which broke his heart.

"To be honest, I was livid. I felt humiliated, hurt and disconcerted that Dev saab, my much older mentor, a person I loved and admired platonically, would not only believe such a story devoid of a shred of truth, but would then go on to publish it for the world to read. For weeks my phone rang incessantly as friends inquired about "what really happened" and shared excerpts from the book. I never did read it though, and in my anger I consigned the copy I was sent to storage in the basement! So here it is - the great misunderstanding. This episode embarrassed me deeply. For years I felt unable to talk about it to set the record straight. But now, time has granted me perspective and peace. Human folly is an eternal truth, and we all fall victim at one point or another," she added.

"I will always remember Dev saab for his rare talent and warm guidance. He has my earnest gratitude and I do not tolerate disrespect to his name".