How A Launderer's Mistake Shaped An Everlasting Friendship Betweeen Dev Anand And Guru Dutt

On the occasion of legendary actor Dev Anand's birth centenary, let's take a look at how a “launderer's mistake” helped shape a friendship between two of Indian cinema's “most unique and innovative minds.” We are talking about, of course, Dev Anand and the legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt. As reported by digital media house The Paperclip, a quirky event, on the sets of Dev Anand's debut project Hum Ek Hain, led to the “bonding of two incomparable creative minds”. Before we dive deep into the story, let's take a quick glance at Dev Anand's journey from Lahore to the sets of Hum Ek Hain. 

“In the early 1940s, Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand, after completing his BA degree from Govt. College, Lahore, arrived in Bombay. His elder brother, Chetan Anand, was part of IPTA (Indian People's Theatre Association) and the younger sibling soon followed suit. This was the time when the Bombay film industry was wowing audiences across India. The cynosure of all eyes was the reigning star, Ashok Kumar whose performances in Kismet and Achyut Kanya left an indelible impression on young Dharamdev,” The Paperclip reported.

. 

In the early 1940s, Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand, after completing his BA degree from Govt. College, Lahore, arrived in Bombay. His elder brother, Chetan Anand, was part of @iptaindia and the younger sibling soon followed suit (2/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

This was the time when the Bombay film industry was wowing audiences across India. The cynosure of all eyes was the reigning star, Ashok Kumar whose performances in Kismet and Achyut Kanya left an indelible impression on young Dharamdev (3/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

The thread continued, “He [Dev Anand] was determined to achieve stardom on the silver screen. He had later admitted that he nearly gate-crashed into Prabhat Film Studios and secured a leading role in their next production Hum Ek Hain.” Guru Dutt was also a part of the 1946 film. “It was on the sets of this film that the quirkiest of events led to the bonding of two incomparable creative minds. One day, at the shoot, Dharamdev, now using the screen name “Dev Anand”, was leaving the studio,” the digital media house reported.

He was determined to achieve stardom on the silver screen. He had later admitted, he nearly gate-crashed into Prabhat Film Studios and secured a leading role in their next production Hum Ek Hain (4/21) pic.twitter.com/3XjnHGcxJ5— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

It was on the sets of this film that the quirkiest of events led to the bonding of two incomparable creative minds. One day, at the shoot, Dharamdev, now using the screen name “Dev Anand”, was leaving the studio (5/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

At the exit, Dev Anand came face to face with another young man of roughly the same age, who introduced himself as an assistant director of the film and gave his name as Guru Dutt. After looking at each other, the two realised that their shirts had been swapped - a mistake by the studio laundry man. Dev Anand and Guru Dutt had a good laugh over the faux pas.

At the exit, he came face to face with another young man of roughly the same age. The two young men exchanged pleasantries. The other man introduced himself as an assistant director of the film and gave his name as Guru Dutt (6/21) pic.twitter.com/nNbJh9NIsM— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

As they were bidding goodbyes, both took a second look at each other. It was then they realized that their shirts had been swapped - a mistake by the studio laundry man. Dev Anand and Guru Dutt had a good laugh over the faux pas (7/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

Dev Anand promised Guru Dutt that if he ever produced a film, he [Guru Dutt] would direct it. Guru Dutt had also reciprocated by promising that Dev Anand would be the leading man of his first directorial venture, as per The Paperclip. Within three years of making his acting debut, Dev Anand — in 1949 – along with his elder brother Chetan Anand established their own production house Navketan Films. The first film released under the banner of Navketan was Afsar in 1950. It was directed by Chetan and featured Dev Anand in the lead. 

Dev promised Guru that if he ever produced a film, Guru would direct it. Guru Dutt reciprocated by promising that Dev Anand would be the leading man of his first directorial venture (8/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

In 1949, Dev Anand and his elder brother Chetan established their own production house Navketan Films. A year later, Navketan's first film, Afsar - directed by Chetan and starring Dev - was released. But Dev hadn't forgotten his promise (9/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

For Navketan's second production, titled Baazi, Dev Anand got his friend Guru Dutt as the director. Baazi is reportedly the first crime noir film made in India. It became the second-highest commercial grosser of 1951. Apart from its commercial success, Baazi turned out to be “unforgettable” for the two friends for “personal reasons.” At the mahurat of the film, Guru Dutt was mesmerised by Geeta Ghosh Roy Chowdhury's rendition of the song “Tadbeer Se Bigdi Huyi Taqdeer.” Guru Dutt and Geeta got married in 1953.

For Navketan's second production, titled Baazi, Dev got his friend Guru Dutt as the director. Baazi is acknowledged as the first crime noir film made in India. It was received positively and was the second highest commercial grosser of 1951 (10/21) pic.twitter.com/ViS8njc8Q6— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

Apart from its commercial success, Baazi would be unforgettable for the two friends for personal reasons. At the mahurat of the film, Guru Dutt was mesmerized by Geeta Ghosh RoyChowdhury's rendition of the song “Tadbeer se bigdi huyi Taqdeer banale” (11/21) pic.twitter.com/8kIKoJOwIr— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

Meanwhile, Dev Anand had ended his relationship with actress Suraiya by 1951, due to her family's staunch stance against their marriage. Just like Guru Dutt, the actor also found love on the sets of Baazi. For Baazi's female lead, Chetan Anand had picked a fresh face Mona Singha, “a Punjabi Christian from Lahore.” She was christened Kalpana Kartik. Baazi marked Kalpana's debut project.  

For the romantic lead opposite Dev Anand in Baazi, Chetan Anand picked Mona Singha - a Punjabi Christian from Lahore. She was christened Kalpana Kartik and made her debut in the film (14/21) pic.twitter.com/bfkihfPveo— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

Dev Anand and Kalpana Kartik “wasn't quite love at first sight but slowly and gradually, romance blossomed between the pair. In 1954, during a shooting break of Taxi Driver, Dev Anand married Kalpana Kartik,” the report added. In the coming years, Kartik was “Mona bhabhi” to Guru Dutt while Geeta Dutt became like a sister to Dev Anand.

It wasn't quite love at first sight but slowly and gradually, romance blossomed between the pair. In 1954, during a shooting break of Taxi Driver, Dev Anand married Kalpana Kartik (15/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

Among the first guests to arrive at the midnight wedding was Guru Dutt. In the coming years, Kartik was “Mona bhabhi” to Guru Dutt while Geeta Dutt became like a sister to Dev Anand (16/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

As per The Paperclip, Baazi remains a “landmark film” in the history of Hindi cinema because it was the first major success of lyricist Saahir Ludhianvi and the start of SD Burman's golden run with Navketan Films.

Baazi remains a landmark film in the history of Hindi cinema since it was the first major success of lyricist Saahir Ludhianvi and the start of SD Burman's golden run with Navketan Films (17/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

Notably, there was a fair share of creative differences between Guru Dutt and Chetan Anand. Though Guru Dutt severed his relations with Navketan, his friendship with Dev Anand remained unaltered. In 1952, Guru Dutt directed Dev Anand in Jaal. The film became “one of the biggest commercial successes of the year.” It was listed by Filmfare as one of the best noir films of the 1950s. The success of Jaal propelled Dev Anand to superstardom.

Although creative differences between Guru and Chetan Anand.meant Dutt severed his relations with Navketan, the friendship between Dev and Guru remained unaltered. In 1952, Guru Dutt directed Dev Anand in Jaal (18/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

The movie became one of the biggest commercial successes of the year and was listed by Filmfare as one of the best noir films of the 1950s. The success of Jaal propelled Dev Anand to superstardom (19/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

After the super success of Jaal, Dev Anand and Guru Dutt's next project together was C.I.D. It was also their last film together. C.I.D also marked the Hindi film debut of Waheeda Rehman and “the beginning of one of Hindi filmdom's most tragic romances.” Despite being married to Geeta Ghosh, Guru Dutt's alleged relationship with Waheeda Rehman was known to all 

Dev Anand and Guru Dutt worked only once more, in CID - produced by Dutt and starring Anand. CID also marked the Hindi debut of Waheeda Rehman and the beginning of one of Hindi filmdom's most tragic romances (20/21)— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

“Yet, in the highly competitive world of the Bombay film industry, the bond between Dev Anand and Guru Dutt would always remain special. As Dev Anand once said: "Zindagi ki daud mein uske [Guru Dutt] jaisa dost phir kabhi nahi mila……," The Paper Clip added.

Yet, in the highly competitive world of the Bombay film industry, the bond between Dev Anand and Guru Dutt would always remain special. To quote Dev saab: "Zindegi ki daud mein uske jaisa dost phir kabhi nehi mila…..."(21/21) pic.twitter.com/e9Ad2OjPfw— The Paperclip (@Paperclip_In) September 26, 2023

Guru Dutt, who is hailed for directing classics like Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool, died by suicide in 1964. He was 39. 

Dev Anand died on December 3, 2011 in London. He suffered a cardiac arrest.