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The Dev Anand Story
A must-read for Dev Anand fans and students of film history
“A broken nose sometimes makes a great boxer,” said the evergreen Bollywood star Dev Anand after his movie Ishq Ishq Ishq did not work at the box office. In his sixty-five years of unchallenged dominance as the most-loved Hindi film star, Dev Anand gave us several memorable hits like Guide, Taxi Driver, Hum Dono, Johny Mera Naam, and Hare Rama Hare Krishna.
He was not only an exceptionally handsome and stylish hero. His ‘man of the future’ philosophy is worth emulating by persons of all generations. He neither celebrated his successes nor lamented over his failures. A Karma Yogi, in the true sense of the term, he produced, directed, and acted in a lead role in a movie at the age of eighty-eight, which is without parallel in the history of Bollywood.
The book attempts to analyse why his philosophy of life is a source of inspiration for all. It also gives a detailed filmography from Hum Ek Hain to Charge Sheet, with a separate chapter on Guide, and a special write-up on his genius brother Vijay Anand.
“A broken nose sometimes makes a great boxer,” said the evergreen Bollywood star Dev Anand after his movie Ishq Ishq Ishq did not work at the box office. In his sixty-five years of unchallenged dominance as the most-loved Hindi film star, Dev Anand gave us several memorable hits like Guide, Taxi Driver, Hum Dono, Johny Mera Naam, and Hare Rama Hare Krishna.
He was not only an exceptionally handsome and stylish hero. His ‘man of the future’ philosophy is worth emulating by persons of all generations. He neither celebrated his successes nor lamented over his failures. A Karma Yogi, in the true sense of the term, he produced, directed, and acted in a lead role in a movie at the age of eighty-eight, which is without parallel in the history of Bollywood.
The book attempts to analyse why his philosophy of life is a source of inspiration for all. It also gives a detailed filmography from Hum Ek Hain to Charge Sheet, with a separate chapter on Guide, and a special write-up on his genius brother Vijay Anand.
168 pages, Paperback
Published October 11, 2017
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429 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 9, 2018
Govind Sharma's remarkable tale of a young man chasing his dream of becoming an actor offers hope in the area of showmanship.
A lucid narration takes you back to yester years (provided that you were alive in the era).
The narration is filled with the hidden and lesser known facts about Dev Anand's life.
After writing various fiction novels, the author has penned down a book about the actor he admires the most and his efforts do not disappoint.
Using the mechanics of his own imagination, he elaborates how Dev Anand became his favorite actor.
His discription about both the successes and failures of Dev Anand during his wonderful career is unbiased.
The author narrates the demise of the actor with a heavy heart at the beginning of the book.
Then he beautifully sketches the journey of Dev Anand into Film Industry. Finally, the book talks about the Awards and Honours he was galored with.
I was skeptical of the recital being engaging and there were in fact blockades in the flow of reading. The lucidity for me picked up when the travails.
Gathering all the information about the actor's journey, the author has researched extensively and that adds up. Although, I would have prefered to see more vernacular ornamentation to the plain sailing writing style.
A tribute in true sense. Few strands here and there about the humorous incidences during the movies make one chuckle.
Dev Anand has seen his share of ups and downs. An admiring story of an Indian actor, Dev Anand who succeeded, failed and succeeded again and again.
A mostly informative, emotional and insightful look into the inner working of Film Industry. Reading this book, you'd appreciate the fact that fans of Dev Anand were a major culture force.
Through a simple and engaging rendering, the book harbors far more than just advice and inspiration.
Inspirational quotes, detailed description of the actor's movies and his struggles featured heavily in The Dev Anand Story.
The trail of iconic movies of Guide and the classic "Jhonny mera Naam" pastes a smile on my face. The motivational mirror this book is supposed to be on the author stands out with a remarkable ending pages.
The man got Padma Bhushan, I'm not qualified enough to comment on his caliber.
But I can rate the book and it comes out as 3.75/5.
This one will work out for anyone who has an interest in movies.
For Dev Anand fans, it panders to your fandom.
January 18, 2018
As the name suggests The Dev Anand Story is the biography of evergreen Dev Anand. This book has covered his ups & downs in the film industry and his personal traits. A very informative book with writing mixed with beautiful quotes and recollections from different personalities & publishing mediums.
The book covers the year-wise classification of Dev Anand's movies along with the summary of few of his remarkable movies. That is appreciable work of the author.
Though this is "Dev Anand Story" there is less about "Dev Anand" and more about his films. As a reader, I can understand that film and actor can't be separated from each other. Still, a lot can be done & written over the struggle of Dev Anand. Facts about the movie which everyone knows. In a biography, people would like to know other facts about his relationships with others in the film industry, his ups & downs in his film career. These facts can be researched & written. The author could have added the part which talks about his efforts behind getting a movie or struggle in the initial phase.
The Dev Anand fan would surely love that mini summary of movie & don't miss this great art of work.
Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2018/01...
The book covers the year-wise classification of Dev Anand's movies along with the summary of few of his remarkable movies. That is appreciable work of the author.
Though this is "Dev Anand Story" there is less about "Dev Anand" and more about his films. As a reader, I can understand that film and actor can't be separated from each other. Still, a lot can be done & written over the struggle of Dev Anand. Facts about the movie which everyone knows. In a biography, people would like to know other facts about his relationships with others in the film industry, his ups & downs in his film career. These facts can be researched & written. The author could have added the part which talks about his efforts behind getting a movie or struggle in the initial phase.
The Dev Anand fan would surely love that mini summary of movie & don't miss this great art of work.
Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2018/01...
January 31, 2018
Govind Sharma's remarkable tale of a young man chasing his dream of becoming an actor offers hope in the area of showmanship.
A lucid narration takes you back to yester years (provided that you were alive in the era).
The narration is filled with the hidden and lesser known facts about Dev Anand's life.
After writing various fiction novels, the author has penned down a book about the actor he admires the most and his efforts do not disappoint.
Using the mechanics of his own imagination, he elaborates how Dev Anand became his favorite actor.
His description about both the successes and failures of Dev Anand during his wonderful career is unbiased.
The author narrates the demise of the actor with a heavy heart at the beginning of the book.
Then he beautifully sketches the journey of Dev Anand into Film Industry. Finally, the book talks about the Awards and Honours he was galored with.
I was skeptical of the recital being engaging and there were in fact blockades in the flow of reading. The lucidity for me picked up when the travails.
Gathering all the information about the actor's journey, the author has researched extensively and that adds up. Although, I would have prefered to see more vernacular ornamentation to the plain sailing writing style.
A tribute in true sense. Few strands here and there about the humorous incidences during the movies make one chuckle.
Dev Anand has seen his share of ups and downs. An admiring story of an Indian actor, Dev Anand who succeeded, failed and succeeded again and again.
A mostly informative, emotional and insightful look into the inner working of Film Industry. Reading this book, you'd appreciate the fact that fans of Dev Anand were a major culture force.
Through a simple and engaging rendering, the book harbors far more than just advice and inspiration.
Inspirational quotes, detailed description of the actor's movies and his struggles featured heavily in The Dev Anand Story.
The trail of iconic movies of Guide and the classic "Jhonny mera Naam" pastes a smile on my face. The motivational mirror this book is supposed to be on the author stands out with a remarkable ending pages.
The man got Padma Bhushan, I'm not qualified enough to comment on his caliber.
But I can rate the book and it comes out as 3.75/5.
This one will work out for anyone who has an interest in movies.
For Dev Anand fans, it panders to your fandom.
A lucid narration takes you back to yester years (provided that you were alive in the era).
The narration is filled with the hidden and lesser known facts about Dev Anand's life.
After writing various fiction novels, the author has penned down a book about the actor he admires the most and his efforts do not disappoint.
Using the mechanics of his own imagination, he elaborates how Dev Anand became his favorite actor.
His description about both the successes and failures of Dev Anand during his wonderful career is unbiased.
The author narrates the demise of the actor with a heavy heart at the beginning of the book.
Then he beautifully sketches the journey of Dev Anand into Film Industry. Finally, the book talks about the Awards and Honours he was galored with.
I was skeptical of the recital being engaging and there were in fact blockades in the flow of reading. The lucidity for me picked up when the travails.
Gathering all the information about the actor's journey, the author has researched extensively and that adds up. Although, I would have prefered to see more vernacular ornamentation to the plain sailing writing style.
A tribute in true sense. Few strands here and there about the humorous incidences during the movies make one chuckle.
Dev Anand has seen his share of ups and downs. An admiring story of an Indian actor, Dev Anand who succeeded, failed and succeeded again and again.
A mostly informative, emotional and insightful look into the inner working of Film Industry. Reading this book, you'd appreciate the fact that fans of Dev Anand were a major culture force.
Through a simple and engaging rendering, the book harbors far more than just advice and inspiration.
Inspirational quotes, detailed description of the actor's movies and his struggles featured heavily in The Dev Anand Story.
The trail of iconic movies of Guide and the classic "Jhonny mera Naam" pastes a smile on my face. The motivational mirror this book is supposed to be on the author stands out with a remarkable ending pages.
The man got Padma Bhushan, I'm not qualified enough to comment on his caliber.
But I can rate the book and it comes out as 3.75/5.
This one will work out for anyone who has an interest in movies.
For Dev Anand fans, it panders to your fandom.
October 13, 2017
I am the author of this book. After writing three works of fiction(i)Anant Dot Com(ii)State vs Amrit Kumar, and (iii) The Break Up Clinic, a novel, I decided to write a non-fiction book on my favorite Bollywood star Dev Anand.
October 28, 2017
The book is a recollection of some of the greatest memories, the Evergreen Actor, as he is known is associated with. The intricate details of each and every movie has been very nicely covered by the other even though the book claims this isn't an exhaustive list.
This can certainly be fit to be called one of the best collection of information in one place about Dev Anand. If you are a fan of him, this is something you cannot afford to miss.
The book talks in great detail about the life of Dev Anand as to how he found the break to be featured in a movie and his association with some of the great names in the industry which included greatest musicians, directors, producers and co-actors and his temperament and approach.
I would say this is certainly an unbiased book because while it celebrates the success of the star, it also details about his failures and the reason behind it. Since the information is really abundant, it is advisable to use the marker to make a note of some of the important information since it is only by that way, one could do justice to the Padma Bhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner.
This can certainly be classified as a Treasure Trove!!!
This can certainly be fit to be called one of the best collection of information in one place about Dev Anand. If you are a fan of him, this is something you cannot afford to miss.
The book talks in great detail about the life of Dev Anand as to how he found the break to be featured in a movie and his association with some of the great names in the industry which included greatest musicians, directors, producers and co-actors and his temperament and approach.
I would say this is certainly an unbiased book because while it celebrates the success of the star, it also details about his failures and the reason behind it. Since the information is really abundant, it is advisable to use the marker to make a note of some of the important information since it is only by that way, one could do justice to the Padma Bhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner.
This can certainly be classified as a Treasure Trove!!!
November 7, 2017
I thank Dr. Govind Sharma for having sent me the book in exchange of my review. I have read his two books namely State vs Amrit kumar and The Breakup-Clinic.He has become my favorite author as I am astounded by his story writing style and skill to weave a great plot.
THE DEV ANAND STORY : The book’s cover is fantastic with azure background carrying the image of the bronze life size statue of Dev Anand, Super star along with the most famous actress Waheeda Rehman staring the same with adoration . Dev Anand won the hundreds and thousands of hearts by his charisma, handsome look and hard work . He got many mega hits.In the cine feild he got great respect .
The first page carries his lively sketch by Badal Tyagi . There are 11 chapters each holding a caption .Chapter one starts with The Dev Anand Story wherein the author recollects the day 4 th December 2011 telling about the sad demise of the evergreen star .From there onwards he gives a glorifying picture of his favorite actor by citing so many incidents and giving reference to the sayings of great personalities about him .Last chapter gives the details of important Awards and Honors as well as about his films.
The story is unfurled from the year 1923 to 2012 .The world famous legend’s life journey from his birth to till he makes the movie charge sheet portrayed in a beautiful way. His efforts to become a cine actor and later on as a producer of quality movies under his banner Navketan his experiences with his colleagues, his successes and failures , his relationship with his colleagues everything is given in a nice manner. The strong blurb on the cover includes the following statement:
A karma yogi in the true sense of the term he produced directed and acted in a lead role in a movie a the age of eighty eight which is without parallel in the history of Bollywood.
His wisdom quote would inspire all.
"You are dead the moment you stop dreaming".
The author has toiled a lot to collect the details and put them in a wonderful manner to be a fitting tribute to the great artist.I like the book as it holds so many truths about the legend who has acted till the age of 88 in the lead character. His story would definitely motivate us. Whoever knows the actor would find the book worth reading as they can remember the sweet moments.
This book is meant for all cine goers as the book deals with the super actor who would be remembered forever for his great contribution to the Indian Cinema. The language is superb. The Editing is good and the font is medium making an easy read . It is a must read by all as it motivates us a lot and it should be recommended to all the institutions imparting courses related to cinema. His life is a great lesson to all .
THE DEV ANAND STORY : The book’s cover is fantastic with azure background carrying the image of the bronze life size statue of Dev Anand, Super star along with the most famous actress Waheeda Rehman staring the same with adoration . Dev Anand won the hundreds and thousands of hearts by his charisma, handsome look and hard work . He got many mega hits.In the cine feild he got great respect .
The first page carries his lively sketch by Badal Tyagi . There are 11 chapters each holding a caption .Chapter one starts with The Dev Anand Story wherein the author recollects the day 4 th December 2011 telling about the sad demise of the evergreen star .From there onwards he gives a glorifying picture of his favorite actor by citing so many incidents and giving reference to the sayings of great personalities about him .Last chapter gives the details of important Awards and Honors as well as about his films.
The story is unfurled from the year 1923 to 2012 .The world famous legend’s life journey from his birth to till he makes the movie charge sheet portrayed in a beautiful way. His efforts to become a cine actor and later on as a producer of quality movies under his banner Navketan his experiences with his colleagues, his successes and failures , his relationship with his colleagues everything is given in a nice manner. The strong blurb on the cover includes the following statement:
A karma yogi in the true sense of the term he produced directed and acted in a lead role in a movie a the age of eighty eight which is without parallel in the history of Bollywood.
His wisdom quote would inspire all.
"You are dead the moment you stop dreaming".
The author has toiled a lot to collect the details and put them in a wonderful manner to be a fitting tribute to the great artist.I like the book as it holds so many truths about the legend who has acted till the age of 88 in the lead character. His story would definitely motivate us. Whoever knows the actor would find the book worth reading as they can remember the sweet moments.
This book is meant for all cine goers as the book deals with the super actor who would be remembered forever for his great contribution to the Indian Cinema. The language is superb. The Editing is good and the font is medium making an easy read . It is a must read by all as it motivates us a lot and it should be recommended to all the institutions imparting courses related to cinema. His life is a great lesson to all .
January 16, 2018
A book to know all about Dev Anand. If anyone wanna know about Dev Anand this is a good start..
November 19, 2017
Spoiler free review :
I was really happy to know that Author's fourth book is coming up ! And this time a non fiction and is about biography of a famous bollywood actor. When I received the book , I got a signed one and the words written filled me with positivity !
According to me collecting all the details to write a biography and mentioning them in your own words keeping the original real facts intact in such lucid language is a very difficult job and talented gift that Author has in him !
Late Mr.Dev Anand was a very popular enchanting actor of bollywood. I have not seen many movies of him yet , but as my father is a great fan of Singer Late Mohammad Rafi , I have seen Mr. Dev Anand dancing and acting in those Hit old Hindi song videos with heroines in various attires . What caught my eyes was that he had an unique style of his own which was very different than other actors of his time .
Author Mr.Govind Ji's book is a very interesting one opening the door to know more about this wonderful actor of all times through his biography in which his various hit movies are mentioned added with some quick fun filled facts behind the scenes . I felt all together that Dev Anand ji was not only established in movie industry but also within his own soul as a good well mannered human being who arose to top due to his dedicated to work nature ! All together very well written Biography of the Famous actor of all times " Late Mr. Dev Anand " in the lucid and wonderfully written words of one of my favourite authors Govind Ji !
Thank you ! 😊
I was really happy to know that Author's fourth book is coming up ! And this time a non fiction and is about biography of a famous bollywood actor. When I received the book , I got a signed one and the words written filled me with positivity !
According to me collecting all the details to write a biography and mentioning them in your own words keeping the original real facts intact in such lucid language is a very difficult job and talented gift that Author has in him !
Late Mr.Dev Anand was a very popular enchanting actor of bollywood. I have not seen many movies of him yet , but as my father is a great fan of Singer Late Mohammad Rafi , I have seen Mr. Dev Anand dancing and acting in those Hit old Hindi song videos with heroines in various attires . What caught my eyes was that he had an unique style of his own which was very different than other actors of his time .
Author Mr.Govind Ji's book is a very interesting one opening the door to know more about this wonderful actor of all times through his biography in which his various hit movies are mentioned added with some quick fun filled facts behind the scenes . I felt all together that Dev Anand ji was not only established in movie industry but also within his own soul as a good well mannered human being who arose to top due to his dedicated to work nature ! All together very well written Biography of the Famous actor of all times " Late Mr. Dev Anand " in the lucid and wonderfully written words of one of my favourite authors Govind Ji !
Thank you ! 😊
December 19, 2017
This is one of something I read first time. Stories about Bollywood was never in my thought.
Written in well bound way shows a different part of it. Scripted and portrait-ed nicely the leading Man of Bollywood Industry, this book has a lot of content for its readers. The Cover print from Notion Press is so impressive as well.
I always used to think an discuss often with friends & family whenever I saw any song on Television about this man for how he could have become a superstar even when I never found him heroic; though much charming for that matter? But seriously when went through the study on his life and his lifestyle via this book I realized that only didn't matter when You have such a perfect dedication for work.
Author has given a very good account of him via his novel which was actually a go-through in one shot. The whole life of him summarized in this short book based on his works. Its moreover a very good memoir from a different POV and perspective.
I enjoyed it in a good manner and it bound me to read till end but there is something I feel bad is that some words and phrases were used more than often in this short book which makes it uninteresting even when you were trying to feel connected. Also, the name (full name) of Dev Anand was not mentioned completely correct in book at one point. Else it was very well to go At-least once, specially if someone is movie buff and fan of that Era of Bollywood.
I got it as ARC from author directly for honest reviews in return. I already read one more book from Mr. Sharma and found it equally good.
For me it deserves 3.0/5.0
Written in well bound way shows a different part of it. Scripted and portrait-ed nicely the leading Man of Bollywood Industry, this book has a lot of content for its readers. The Cover print from Notion Press is so impressive as well.
I always used to think an discuss often with friends & family whenever I saw any song on Television about this man for how he could have become a superstar even when I never found him heroic; though much charming for that matter? But seriously when went through the study on his life and his lifestyle via this book I realized that only didn't matter when You have such a perfect dedication for work.
Author has given a very good account of him via his novel which was actually a go-through in one shot. The whole life of him summarized in this short book based on his works. Its moreover a very good memoir from a different POV and perspective.
I enjoyed it in a good manner and it bound me to read till end but there is something I feel bad is that some words and phrases were used more than often in this short book which makes it uninteresting even when you were trying to feel connected. Also, the name (full name) of Dev Anand was not mentioned completely correct in book at one point. Else it was very well to go At-least once, specially if someone is movie buff and fan of that Era of Bollywood.
I got it as ARC from author directly for honest reviews in return. I already read one more book from Mr. Sharma and found it equally good.
For me it deserves 3.0/5.0
November 10, 2017
I want to congratulate the author, Dr. Govind Sharma, for writing the exemplary story of the legendary actor Dev Anand.
The first chapter starts with a death incident (on Dec 4th, 2011) and then moves to the early life and initial years of his life before he stepped into Bollywood.
The author has included each and every movie done by Dev Anand (from Hum ek hain to Charge sheet) with their stories, along with influences and inspirations from novels or English movies. A detailed comparison of the English movies with their Hindi version has been done explaining how improvisations were done in accordance with the Indian culture and acceptance.
A detailed evaluation of the star cast of each film, producers, associated directors, writers, sets, locations, cinematography, visual effects, music direction, singers with initial lyrics of each song depicts that the author has a vast knowledge and interest in this field and has collected this data over years of research. There is also a box office review and a detailed analysis of why each movie was either successful, average or a flop as per the critics and the audience.
Some excerpts about small events related to associated artists and directors make the book more spellbinding. There is a complete chapter dedicated to one of Dev Anand’s most monumental movies Guide which is a masterpiece. Another chapter about his sibling Vijay Anand tells about why he was known as Goldie, his excellence in film direction, script writing and his personal life.
The books is not only about movies and personal life experiences of an actor but it is a journey of an enthusiastic, optimistic, disciplined, creative and humble person who always looked forward, was never influenced by success or failure, and above all, was a consistent learner.
The book reveals the author’s understanding and appreciation for movies (both Hindi and English) and his efforts in such deep background research in all fields of movie production.
Kudos to the author, Dr. Govind Sharma
The first chapter starts with a death incident (on Dec 4th, 2011) and then moves to the early life and initial years of his life before he stepped into Bollywood.
The author has included each and every movie done by Dev Anand (from Hum ek hain to Charge sheet) with their stories, along with influences and inspirations from novels or English movies. A detailed comparison of the English movies with their Hindi version has been done explaining how improvisations were done in accordance with the Indian culture and acceptance.
A detailed evaluation of the star cast of each film, producers, associated directors, writers, sets, locations, cinematography, visual effects, music direction, singers with initial lyrics of each song depicts that the author has a vast knowledge and interest in this field and has collected this data over years of research. There is also a box office review and a detailed analysis of why each movie was either successful, average or a flop as per the critics and the audience.
Some excerpts about small events related to associated artists and directors make the book more spellbinding. There is a complete chapter dedicated to one of Dev Anand’s most monumental movies Guide which is a masterpiece. Another chapter about his sibling Vijay Anand tells about why he was known as Goldie, his excellence in film direction, script writing and his personal life.
The books is not only about movies and personal life experiences of an actor but it is a journey of an enthusiastic, optimistic, disciplined, creative and humble person who always looked forward, was never influenced by success or failure, and above all, was a consistent learner.
The book reveals the author’s understanding and appreciation for movies (both Hindi and English) and his efforts in such deep background research in all fields of movie production.
Kudos to the author, Dr. Govind Sharma
December 15, 2017
This is a very informative and which the writer has compiled in a very lucid way , mixed with beautiful anecdotes, and recollections . One by One all the distinguished actors of by gone era are going , so its a very nice task which helps the young generation to get a glimpse in the life of such great actors of bygone era
November 17, 2017
Usually I don’t read biography that frequently. I am fan of novels fiction or non fiction. But after grabbing this one, the whole idea of biography has been changed. Very interesting. When i started the book, I had very little knowledge about Film star Dev Anand ji. After finishing, I will definitely want to see all of his movie. Indeed good one!!
November 8, 2017
When I started with the book, I thought that what a book can tell about Dev Anand. Being a movie freak and critic, I started the book with a negative attitude, but to my surprise, when I saw the cover page, I was completely blown away. Dev sahab's staute having Waheeda Reham by its side, what a cover page.
When I started turning the pages, I felt like I am flowing in a different era. Kudos to the writer, the way he has presented and articulated things, you can see the actors and script dancing in front of you. What a mesmerizing way of story telling. I must admit that the writer had done numerous years of homework before producing this master piece "The Dev Anand Story". The way the writer has created a chapter on Guide, it's insanely awesome. You feel like watching the movie while reading the Guide chapter. This book tells you about the great Vijay Anand as well.
The book does not tell you about Dev shahab only, it also highly inspires you to follow you dream. It represents the value of hardwork and discipline.
I must say that this book is indeed a treat for the cinema lovers.
Thanks Govind Sir for penning down about this legend in such a wonderful way.
When I started turning the pages, I felt like I am flowing in a different era. Kudos to the writer, the way he has presented and articulated things, you can see the actors and script dancing in front of you. What a mesmerizing way of story telling. I must admit that the writer had done numerous years of homework before producing this master piece "The Dev Anand Story". The way the writer has created a chapter on Guide, it's insanely awesome. You feel like watching the movie while reading the Guide chapter. This book tells you about the great Vijay Anand as well.
The book does not tell you about Dev shahab only, it also highly inspires you to follow you dream. It represents the value of hardwork and discipline.
I must say that this book is indeed a treat for the cinema lovers.
Thanks Govind Sir for penning down about this legend in such a wonderful way.
October 19, 2017
Good Book On The iconic Actor Dev Anand Each And Every Detail provided Through Research By Author itself.
I Also Get Some of Important Information on Superstar Dev Anand Which priror I Didnt know about.
Althrough one of most like thing is that The Book Is Not So lengthy You read In Single Sitting.
Overall Good For Reading .
I Also Get Some of Important Information on Superstar Dev Anand Which priror I Didnt know about.
Althrough one of most like thing is that The Book Is Not So lengthy You read In Single Sitting.
Overall Good For Reading .
October 26, 2017
Read this book in a day. It was not boringly descriptive like many of the biographies, but still covered all his films and his work. Its a good read for the Dev Anand fans and also for those who barely knew of his work. I shall gift this book to my Dad whos a true fan of his earlier works and saw every movie of his till late 80s.
Though this book lacks the magic of State Vs Amrit kaur which was a binding story with emotions, but still I would recommend it as a to read book to know the ever youthful person that the legendry Dev Anand was
Though this book lacks the magic of State Vs Amrit kaur which was a binding story with emotions, but still I would recommend it as a to read book to know the ever youthful person that the legendry Dev Anand was
September 18, 2020
It was such a delight to read this book. I hardly knew Dev Anand as a person or his movies, but reading this book gave me so much insight and perspective into his life as an amazing actor, director, producer and in general, an amazing human being. There is so much to take away from his life ; his determination, his passion for his work, his take on life. Feeling so inspired after reading it. A few chapters in the book felt list-like and less immersive, but it was overall a great book and a must read for Dev Anand fans and fans of film history.
March 24, 2021
" You are dead the moment you stop dreaming. "
The Dev Anand Story is the author's first venture into non-fiction. I have read 2 of his fiction books earlier and I decided to give this one a go. As the blurb suggests, this book is a must read for Dev Anand fans and students of film history. I personally had no idea about this actor as he was present before my era. But I did ask my mother and she told me with gleaming eyes about his movies, fame and amazing personality.
' I knew I had that quality, for my mirror always told me, as it liy my reflection in it every time I looked into it, with a chorus of angelic voices, "Wow! Let the world see you. "'
This book is an unbiased account of his life which is neatly divided into different eras appropriately. The book also has special chapter dedicated to his brother, Vijay Anand, his award and accolade and a list of all good movies. It was very comprehensive. It is appreciable that the author has put so much effort into research for this book.
" You have the sun on your forehead. You will be a big man one day. "
The book also had excerpts from the actor's own autobiography and also other quotes from his co-actors which elevated the book. As this book is only the truth without aby embellishments, it was slow in some places. But the author had tried to his best to capture the essence of the actor's life in his narration.
" The destiny never comes to you. You have to reach out to your destiny. "
For the new generation like me, this book can give us a view of the yesteryear bollywood. For the old generation, it gives you a chance to reminisce about the old times. Either way it's a win a win.
Read it / Skip it- My verdict- READ📖
Rating- ⭐⭐⭐✨
-Afreen
The Dev Anand Story is the author's first venture into non-fiction. I have read 2 of his fiction books earlier and I decided to give this one a go. As the blurb suggests, this book is a must read for Dev Anand fans and students of film history. I personally had no idea about this actor as he was present before my era. But I did ask my mother and she told me with gleaming eyes about his movies, fame and amazing personality.
' I knew I had that quality, for my mirror always told me, as it liy my reflection in it every time I looked into it, with a chorus of angelic voices, "Wow! Let the world see you. "'
This book is an unbiased account of his life which is neatly divided into different eras appropriately. The book also has special chapter dedicated to his brother, Vijay Anand, his award and accolade and a list of all good movies. It was very comprehensive. It is appreciable that the author has put so much effort into research for this book.
" You have the sun on your forehead. You will be a big man one day. "
The book also had excerpts from the actor's own autobiography and also other quotes from his co-actors which elevated the book. As this book is only the truth without aby embellishments, it was slow in some places. But the author had tried to his best to capture the essence of the actor's life in his narration.
" The destiny never comes to you. You have to reach out to your destiny. "
For the new generation like me, this book can give us a view of the yesteryear bollywood. For the old generation, it gives you a chance to reminisce about the old times. Either way it's a win a win.
Read it / Skip it- My verdict- READ📖
Rating- ⭐⭐⭐✨
-Afreen
November 26, 2017
सबसे पहले यह पुस्तक भेंट करनें के लिए डा.गोविंद शर्मा सर को धन्यवाद और ह्र्दय से आभार 🙏🙏😃 ,झुक-झुक कर संवाद अदायगी का खास अंदाज हो, या फिर फीमेल फैन्स की बात...देव आनंद अपने समकालीन एक्टरों से हमेशा अलग थे। बॉलीवुड में कितने ही हीरो आए और चले गए, लेकिन ऐसे कुछेक ही हैं, जिनके किस्सों का जिक्र किए बिना हिंदी फिल्मों का इतिहास अधूरा रह जाएगा अपने दौर में रूमानियत और फैशन आइकन रहे देव साहब के बहुत से किस्सों से भरी यह किताब कब पूरी हो जाती है पता ही नहीं चलता,मैने उनके काले कोट पर बैन के बारे में पढ़ा था,लेकिन आज जाना वह सामान्य घर से ताल्लुक रखने वाले और परिश्रम से इतनी उंचाईयों तक पहुंचे न कि किसी परिवार की सिफारिशों से ,सचमुच आनंद आ गया देवानंद आ गया, ☺ ☺
November 7, 2017
I thank Dr. Govind Sharma for having sent me the book in exchange of my review. I have read his two books namely State vs Amrit kumar and The Breakup-Clinic.He has become my favorite author as I am astounded by his story writing style and skill to weave a great plot.
THE DEV ANAND STORY : The book’s cover is fantastic with azure background carrying the image of the bronze life size statue of Dev Anand, Super star along with the most famous actress Waheeda Rehman staring the same with adoration . Dev Anand won the hundreds and thousands of hearts by his charisma, handsome look and hard work . He got many mega hits.In the cine feild he got great respect .
The first page carries his lively sketch by Badal Tyagi . There are 11 chapters each holding a caption .Chapter one starts with The Dev Anand Story wherein the author recollects the day 4 th December 2011 telling about the sad demise of the evergreen star .From there onwards he gives a glorifying picture of his favorite actor by citing so many incidents and giving reference to the sayings of great personalities about him .Last chapter gives the details of important Awards and Honors as well as about his films.
The story is unfurled from the year 1923 to 2012 .The world famous legend’s life journey from his birth to till he makes the movie charge sheet portrayed in a beautiful way. His efforts to become a cine actor and later on as a producer of quality movies under his banner Navketan his experiences with his colleagues, his successes and failures , his relationship with his colleagues everything is given in a nice manner. The strong blurb on the cover includes the following statement:
A karma yogi in the true sense of the term he produced directed and acted in a lead role in a movie a the age of eighty eight which is without parallel in the history of Bollywood.
His wisdom quote would inspire all.
"You are dead the moment you stop dreaming".
The author has toiled a lot to collect the details and put them in a wonderful manner to be a fitting tribute to the great artist.I like the book as it holds so many truths about the legend who has acted till the age of 88 in the lead character. His story would definitely motivate us. Whoever knows the actor would find the book worth reading as they can remember the sweet moments. The author has written a fitting tribute to his favorite actor.
This book is meant for all cine goers as the book deals with the super actor who would be remembered forever for his great contribution to the Indian Cinema. The language is superb. The Editing is good and the font is medium making an easy read . It is a must read by all as it motivates us a lot and it should be recommended to all the institutions imparting courses related to cinema. His life is a great lesson to all .
for full review please visit https://talesandreviews.blogspot.in/?m=1
THE DEV ANAND STORY : The book’s cover is fantastic with azure background carrying the image of the bronze life size statue of Dev Anand, Super star along with the most famous actress Waheeda Rehman staring the same with adoration . Dev Anand won the hundreds and thousands of hearts by his charisma, handsome look and hard work . He got many mega hits.In the cine feild he got great respect .
The first page carries his lively sketch by Badal Tyagi . There are 11 chapters each holding a caption .Chapter one starts with The Dev Anand Story wherein the author recollects the day 4 th December 2011 telling about the sad demise of the evergreen star .From there onwards he gives a glorifying picture of his favorite actor by citing so many incidents and giving reference to the sayings of great personalities about him .Last chapter gives the details of important Awards and Honors as well as about his films.
The story is unfurled from the year 1923 to 2012 .The world famous legend’s life journey from his birth to till he makes the movie charge sheet portrayed in a beautiful way. His efforts to become a cine actor and later on as a producer of quality movies under his banner Navketan his experiences with his colleagues, his successes and failures , his relationship with his colleagues everything is given in a nice manner. The strong blurb on the cover includes the following statement:
A karma yogi in the true sense of the term he produced directed and acted in a lead role in a movie a the age of eighty eight which is without parallel in the history of Bollywood.
His wisdom quote would inspire all.
"You are dead the moment you stop dreaming".
The author has toiled a lot to collect the details and put them in a wonderful manner to be a fitting tribute to the great artist.I like the book as it holds so many truths about the legend who has acted till the age of 88 in the lead character. His story would definitely motivate us. Whoever knows the actor would find the book worth reading as they can remember the sweet moments. The author has written a fitting tribute to his favorite actor.
This book is meant for all cine goers as the book deals with the super actor who would be remembered forever for his great contribution to the Indian Cinema. The language is superb. The Editing is good and the font is medium making an easy read . It is a must read by all as it motivates us a lot and it should be recommended to all the institutions imparting courses related to cinema. His life is a great lesson to all .
for full review please visit https://talesandreviews.blogspot.in/?m=1
December 29, 2017
Review originally posted on Abby's Shelves: https://goo.gl/6x8pzb
Dr. Govind Sharma is an author whose book I started reading from the very beginning and I have seen how he has evolved his writing over time. But when he informed me regarding his fourth book which is also his first non-fiction book I was excited and grabbed that opportunity to read it. I love his writing style and narration and wanted to experience how he could handle a non-fiction.
Now coming back to the book, The Dev Anand Story is the authors take on the life of his favorite Bollywood actor Dev Anand. Though I haven’t watched his movies before I did search for him online before reading the book. The book starts with the events of 4th December 2011 telling us about the sad demise of the evergreen actor and from there the author cites many incidents and by giving references to the sayings of great personalities. Towards the end, Dr. Govind Sharma goes on to list out details of all important film awards, honors, and his movies.
What I enjoyed about this book is its simple language, style of narration, the level of details etc. I’m sure the author has struggled to collect all these details for his book. What makes the book stand out is that often biographies tend to be biased but this one talked about the downs and challenges this evergreen star faced. Dr.Govind also has succeeded in establishing how Dev Anand is not only an evergreen Bollywood actor but also a great human. This book has truly inspired me to watch Dev Anand movies.
Overall, a good read detailed enough to satisfy even a hard-core Dev Anand fans and students/researcher of film studies.
ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Govind Sharma is an author whose book I started reading from the very beginning and I have seen how he has evolved his writing over time. But when he informed me regarding his fourth book which is also his first non-fiction book I was excited and grabbed that opportunity to read it. I love his writing style and narration and wanted to experience how he could handle a non-fiction.
Now coming back to the book, The Dev Anand Story is the authors take on the life of his favorite Bollywood actor Dev Anand. Though I haven’t watched his movies before I did search for him online before reading the book. The book starts with the events of 4th December 2011 telling us about the sad demise of the evergreen actor and from there the author cites many incidents and by giving references to the sayings of great personalities. Towards the end, Dr. Govind Sharma goes on to list out details of all important film awards, honors, and his movies.
What I enjoyed about this book is its simple language, style of narration, the level of details etc. I’m sure the author has struggled to collect all these details for his book. What makes the book stand out is that often biographies tend to be biased but this one talked about the downs and challenges this evergreen star faced. Dr.Govind also has succeeded in establishing how Dev Anand is not only an evergreen Bollywood actor but also a great human. This book has truly inspired me to watch Dev Anand movies.
Overall, a good read detailed enough to satisfy even a hard-core Dev Anand fans and students/researcher of film studies.
ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2018
Dev Anand is one of persons who has enriched my life. His movies were fun to watch and one always came off feeling happy, positive, and enthralled. Most importantly, one got the feeling that here was a positive, life-loving, energetic, carefree and stylish man who lived life on his terms.
Govind Sharma has done a great job of collating all the information about Dev Anand in one place. This book is a short guide to the life and times of the great actor – his successes and failures, and his personal life to some extent. Reading this book brought forth the memories of watching his older movies and reliving some of the songs and scenes. The author has done ample research to get details of Dev Anand’s life and for fans this is a treasure trove of information.
I would have preferred a more in-depth analysis of the actor’s motivations – why he did some of the things that he did and the choices that he made; from the author’s perspective. In some places, Mr. Sharma has done just that, but I would have loved to know more about Dev Anand. In the author’s opinion; or anybody’s for that matter. Otherwise, the book tends to read like a detailed chronological filmography of Dev Anand.
The last chapter (mild spoiler alert!), is superb. It brings the achievements of the great actor to the forefront. The author has described the dedication and unveiling of Dev Anand’s statue very nicely. After reading this book (in one sitting), I came away happy to have known the man and sad that he was no longer with us. And that is a tribute to the author’s ability.
Govind Sharma has done a great job of collating all the information about Dev Anand in one place. This book is a short guide to the life and times of the great actor – his successes and failures, and his personal life to some extent. Reading this book brought forth the memories of watching his older movies and reliving some of the songs and scenes. The author has done ample research to get details of Dev Anand’s life and for fans this is a treasure trove of information.
I would have preferred a more in-depth analysis of the actor’s motivations – why he did some of the things that he did and the choices that he made; from the author’s perspective. In some places, Mr. Sharma has done just that, but I would have loved to know more about Dev Anand. In the author’s opinion; or anybody’s for that matter. Otherwise, the book tends to read like a detailed chronological filmography of Dev Anand.
The last chapter (mild spoiler alert!), is superb. It brings the achievements of the great actor to the forefront. The author has described the dedication and unveiling of Dev Anand’s statue very nicely. After reading this book (in one sitting), I came away happy to have known the man and sad that he was no longer with us. And that is a tribute to the author’s ability.
May 4, 2022
Dev Anand is a name which will bring an instant smile on the face of our grandparents. As he was the most popular and loved actor of that age.
I was interested to know more about his life and picked this book. I barely know anything about that era of movies so it was good to have an insight into this.
Through this book I got to know about his early life, how he started his journey to acting by receiving an offer in a local train. Further the success, the most popular films, the advent of his own company, popular production companies and actresses of that time. What was his personal life and how did he sustain and excell in his career?
Author has given his take and opinions on the plot/story of movies by Dev Anand. Whether or how the decision impacted his life further. The information is collected from the interviews/books/magazines or any material available. Author intends for the readers or anybody seeking inspiration to be inspired by the humble nature of the late actor or the philosophy of his life.
I could've liked it if there was more information on his life than movies. The content for movies is 80 % . Whereas the talks about his life are 20% only.
In my opinion, this book is for die-hard Bollywood fans who can connect with the movies of old era or people who want to read a documentation of Dev Anand's life. For the general non-involved audience, it might take some time to get the grasp of this book and they may or may not fully like it.
I was interested to know more about his life and picked this book. I barely know anything about that era of movies so it was good to have an insight into this.
Through this book I got to know about his early life, how he started his journey to acting by receiving an offer in a local train. Further the success, the most popular films, the advent of his own company, popular production companies and actresses of that time. What was his personal life and how did he sustain and excell in his career?
Author has given his take and opinions on the plot/story of movies by Dev Anand. Whether or how the decision impacted his life further. The information is collected from the interviews/books/magazines or any material available. Author intends for the readers or anybody seeking inspiration to be inspired by the humble nature of the late actor or the philosophy of his life.
I could've liked it if there was more information on his life than movies. The content for movies is 80 % . Whereas the talks about his life are 20% only.
In my opinion, this book is for die-hard Bollywood fans who can connect with the movies of old era or people who want to read a documentation of Dev Anand's life. For the general non-involved audience, it might take some time to get the grasp of this book and they may or may not fully like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2017
When I started with the book, I thought that what a book can tell about Dev Anand. Being a movie freak and critic, I started the book with a negative attitude, but to my surprise, when I saw the cover page, I was completely blown away. Dev sahab's staute having Waheeda Reham by its side, what a cover page.
When I started turning the pages, I felt like I am flowing in a different era. Kudos to the writer, the way he has presented and articulated things, you can see the actors and script dancing in front of you. What a mesmerizing way of story telling. I must admit that the writer had done numerous years of homework before producing this master piece "The Dev Anand Story". The way the writer has created a chapter on Guide, it's insanely awesome. You feel like watching the movie while reading the Guide chapter. This book tells you about the great Vijay Anand as well.
The book does not tell you about Dev shahab only, it also highly inspires you to follow you dream. It represents the value of hardwork and discipline.
I must say that this book is indeed a treat for the cinema lovers.
Thanks Govind Sir for penning down about this legend in such a wonderful way.
When I started turning the pages, I felt like I am flowing in a different era. Kudos to the writer, the way he has presented and articulated things, you can see the actors and script dancing in front of you. What a mesmerizing way of story telling. I must admit that the writer had done numerous years of homework before producing this master piece "The Dev Anand Story". The way the writer has created a chapter on Guide, it's insanely awesome. You feel like watching the movie while reading the Guide chapter. This book tells you about the great Vijay Anand as well.
The book does not tell you about Dev shahab only, it also highly inspires you to follow you dream. It represents the value of hardwork and discipline.
I must say that this book is indeed a treat for the cinema lovers.
Thanks Govind Sir for penning down about this legend in such a wonderful way.
October 21, 2021
This is a story about an actor who was full of energy and enthusiasm till the age of 88 and was determined to work till his last breath. Dev Anand, a renowned actor whose movie ‘Guide’ won him almost all the prestigious awards in every category.
What an actor he was, a legend, an entertainer, gentleman, carefree, full of swag, an influencer, optimistic, energetic and a cosmopolitan. He created his own style of walking. Khushwant Singh very correctly referred him as “a man with contagious enthusiasm”.
This book written by Dr Govind Sharma talks about this charismatic hero’s journey which was full of entertainment, struggle and zeal to outshine in Bollywood. He further digs deep down in his personal life, life as a writer-director and talks about his friends and co-actors. His life experiences are motivating and full of passion. No wonder Dev Anand lived life king size.
It’s indeed a very nice biography of a legend who had a rapid-fire style of dialogue delivery and a penchant for nodding while speaking. This was Dev's style in Hindi film industry.
What an actor he was, a legend, an entertainer, gentleman, carefree, full of swag, an influencer, optimistic, energetic and a cosmopolitan. He created his own style of walking. Khushwant Singh very correctly referred him as “a man with contagious enthusiasm”.
This book written by Dr Govind Sharma talks about this charismatic hero’s journey which was full of entertainment, struggle and zeal to outshine in Bollywood. He further digs deep down in his personal life, life as a writer-director and talks about his friends and co-actors. His life experiences are motivating and full of passion. No wonder Dev Anand lived life king size.
It’s indeed a very nice biography of a legend who had a rapid-fire style of dialogue delivery and a penchant for nodding while speaking. This was Dev's style in Hindi film industry.
April 5, 2022
Dev Anand I heard this name from my grandparents and father as a super iconic star in Bollywood. He is well known for his style and fashion.
This book is one of the great works by Govind Sharma.
This in-depth biography details Dev Anand Saab's life so far.
From his early life and his journey to fame on the X-Factor to box-office hit star, this book gets you closer to Dev Anand Saab than ever before.
we follow the rollercoaster of emotions and passion in his work, and we learn how Dev Anand re-invented himself. Dev Anand has also cultivated a career as a director and producer, featuring in box-office hits like Guide, Jewel Thief, and Johny Mera Naam.
It reveals some unknown facts about Dev Saab which will inspire the youth.
This is a book that gets you to the heart of the famous star of the year, a must-read for all of Dev Saab's fans
Thank you Govind Sharma for writing this and making Dev Anand Saab in our hearts forever.
This book is one of the great works by Govind Sharma.
This in-depth biography details Dev Anand Saab's life so far.
From his early life and his journey to fame on the X-Factor to box-office hit star, this book gets you closer to Dev Anand Saab than ever before.
we follow the rollercoaster of emotions and passion in his work, and we learn how Dev Anand re-invented himself. Dev Anand has also cultivated a career as a director and producer, featuring in box-office hits like Guide, Jewel Thief, and Johny Mera Naam.
It reveals some unknown facts about Dev Saab which will inspire the youth.
This is a book that gets you to the heart of the famous star of the year, a must-read for all of Dev Saab's fans
Thank you Govind Sharma for writing this and making Dev Anand Saab in our hearts forever.
July 23, 2020
Marvellous, to say the least. A great tribute to the most endearing, charming and the evergreen superstar, the Great Dev Anand. Dr. Govind Sharma's narrative is so captivating that it actually feels like you are visualizing each and every incident of the actor's journey, unfolding before your own eyes and like you are travelling in the times. It's a treat for millions of Dev Anand fans and the successful saga of the actor is well chronicled by the author. Each and every chapter of the book is so interesting that you would not like to put it down until you have read it till the very end. From Dev Anand's days of struggle to his stardom and his inspiring journey of ruling the silver screen for nearly more than six decades, The Dev Anand story is a must-read- not only for Dev Anand fans but also for those who enjoy films in general. It's a heartwarming light read and the language used is simple, I would like to read more from Dr. Govind Sharma.
April 1, 2021
There's no "story" in the book. The text is presented in a drab narration of events and occurrences, already well documented elsewhere.
The writing suffers from poor grammar and weird composition of sentences, but thankfully better than the first book by Mr. Sharma.
However, I liked the chapter on 'Guide', which was written in a story like format.
There were many instances, where I felt that the author could have dived deeper into the life of this evergreen superstar, his feelings, his struggles and how Dev Sahab lived his life, but as a reader, I was left unsatisfied.
Disclaimer: I won this book as part of the member review program, but as always my review is independent of that. I must, however, add that in spite of giving a low rating to the first book by Mr. Sharma, he chose to give his second book to me for review. Kudos to him for appreciating an honest review.
The writing suffers from poor grammar and weird composition of sentences, but thankfully better than the first book by Mr. Sharma.
However, I liked the chapter on 'Guide', which was written in a story like format.
There were many instances, where I felt that the author could have dived deeper into the life of this evergreen superstar, his feelings, his struggles and how Dev Sahab lived his life, but as a reader, I was left unsatisfied.
Disclaimer: I won this book as part of the member review program, but as always my review is independent of that. I must, however, add that in spite of giving a low rating to the first book by Mr. Sharma, he chose to give his second book to me for review. Kudos to him for appreciating an honest review.
May 22, 2018
Tightly squeezed in these 100 odd pages is the life and works of a stalwart and remarkable thespian, who’s charm as you will note, drove Govind to write this book.
Very immaculately written, this book is a definitive reference to one of Bollywood’s most influential phenomenon. Govind has put immense effort in researching various sources. The text is well laid and an easy read. I highly recommend this book as a companion to Dev Anand’s autobiography.
Good job Govind.
Very immaculately written, this book is a definitive reference to one of Bollywood’s most influential phenomenon. Govind has put immense effort in researching various sources. The text is well laid and an easy read. I highly recommend this book as a companion to Dev Anand’s autobiography.
Good job Govind.
Want to read
December 3, 2017I would love to read this!!! always been a fan of Dev Anand ji, his movies are amazing!!! i was actually surprised to see that his book is available in giveaway, this really made my day, thank you for writing a book on my favourite hero!! his acting is so real :) .. i have gained some knowledge about him from net but would actually love to read a book about it, haven't read any biography before but would love to read his story and of any person who is the part of old bollywood :)
December 17, 2017
There couldn't have been a better tribute to this icon of Indian Cinema, than that given by Dr. Govind Sharma. Writing biographies never seemed simple. The amount of homework one needs to put in, is reflected in this book. Such details which I had never heard of, with such simplistic and wonderful writing made this book a treat to read. Definitely goes for an emphatic 4 star!
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