One of the greatest and most influential actors of Indian cinema, Dharam Devdutt Pishorimal Anand was popularly known as Dev Anand. The highest paid actor during the 1950s and 1960s, Dev Anand was given the title as "Mr. Evergreen". Charismatic, charming, urban, handsome, and debonair - film critics and audiences would often bestow him with praises for his performances. Dev Anand`s work was unparalleled at the time, and he showed his acting prowess equally in critically and commercially hit movies. Many of his movies have now become classics of Indian cinema.

In the early 1940s, Dev Anand completed his BA degree in English Literature at the Government College of Lahore and moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) to work at the Military Censor`s office. After making his debut in 1946 with the movie Hum Ek Hain, Dev appeared in many successful movies including Kala Pani, Guide, Baazi, Tere Ghar Ke Samne, Nau Do Gyarah, CID, Kala Bazar, Jewel Thief, Johnny Mera Naam, Hare Rama Hare Krishna - to name a few. In 1970, Dev Anand made his made his directorial debut with the movie Prem Pujari.

Throughout his career, Dev Anand received several awards for his contribution to the Indian film industry, including Padma Bhushan, India`s third highest civilian award, in 2001. He also won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India`s highest award for cinematic excellence in 2002. The actor passed away due to a cardiac arrest on 3rd of December, 2011 (4th of December according to IST) at the age of 88 at his room at The Washington Mayfair Hotel in London.