When we look back at the golden age of Bollywood, Dev Anand’s name shines brightly among the greats. His charm, unique style and effortless screen presence made him unforgettable but his talents went far beyond acting. He was also a gifted writer, director and producer who dared to experiment with ideas far ahead of his time. Even in the 1970s, Dev Anand envisioned stories that reflected modern society, blending romance with socially relevant themes, and breathed life into every role he played.
Like many actors of his generation, Dev Anand wished to see his son carry forward the family legacy. But unlike Sunil Dutt who gave Sanjay Dutt a grand launch with Rocky or Dharmendra who introduced Sunny Deol in Betaab, Dev Anand chose a quieter way. In 1984, he introduced Suneil Anand through Anand Aur Anand, a film he directed and starred in himself, with celebrated actresses Rakhee and Smita Patil. Unfortunately, the film failed to impress audiences.
Suneil then tried his luck as a lead in Car Thief opposite Vijayta Pandit but this too turned into a disappointment. Hoping for a turnaround, Suneil worked under his uncle Vijay Anand’s direction in Main Tere Liye alongside Meenakshi Sheshadri but the result was no different. Still determined, Dev Anand produced yet another film featuring his son with veterans Asha Parekh and Rajendra Kumar but this attempt too fell flat at the box office.
Disheartened by repeated failures, Suneil Anand decided to step away from acting for a while. Years later, in 2001, he returned with Master, a martial arts film that he both directed and acted in. It was an ambitious project meant to showcase his skills in a fresh way but once again, it did not change his fate.
Realising that perhaps stardom was not meant for him, Suneil chose to stand beside his father in another role. He became an assistant director at Navketan Films, Dev Anand’s production house, and worked quietly behind the scenes. After Dev Anand’s de*th in 2011, Suneil inherited the responsibility of carrying forward Navketan’s legacy. However, despite his efforts, the production house could never regain the glory it once enjoyed under Dev Anand’s vision.
The story of Dev Anand and Suneil Anand remains a bittersweet one. While the father’s brilliance and contributions to cinema continue to be celebrated, the son’s journey serves as a reminder that legacy alone cannot guarantee stardom. It takes a unique spark, something that Dev Anand had in abundance but which Suneil struggled to find.
