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Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Untold interfaith love story of Dev Anand and Kalpana Karthik: Bollywood's best-kept secret
Bollywood icon Dev Anand's life was marked by a discreet yet profound romance with Kalpana Karthik. Their secret wedding, a stark contrast to the industry's fanfare, occurred during a lunch break on the set of 'Taxi Driver'. Kalpana, born Mona Singha, left her promising film career after marriage to embrace family life, cherishing their private bond away from public scrutiny. In Bollywood, where love stories often unfold under the harsh glare of the spotlight, some romances are quietly nurtured in the shadows. One such tale belongs to Dev Anand and Kalpana Karthik — a union that defied religious boundaries, bloomed away from prying eyes, and remained one of the industry's most charmingly guarded secrets. Gurdaspur to the city of dreams Dev Anand, Bollywood's original style icon, was celebrated for his suave charm, distinctive dialogue delivery, and a trademark hairstyle that fans tried to emulate. His signature look — a black coat paired with a crisp white shirt — became so famous (and distracting) that it was once reportedly banned in courtrooms. Hailing from Gurdaspur Dev Anand earned his English degree from Lahore in 1942. Though he dreamt of pursuing higher studies, financial hardships stood in the way. In 1945, with just ₹20 in his pocket, he set out for Mumbai to chase his cinematic dreams. A humble start Without a place to call his own, he shared a cramped room near the railway station with three other dreamers chasing fame. As his savings ran out, he found work at the Military Censor Office, sifting through soldiers' letters for a monthly pay of Rs 165. About a year later, he sought help from his elder brother, Chetan Anand , already an established name in cinema. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Medical Mystery Solved: Dementia and Memory Loss Has Been Linked To This Common Thing. Memory Health Click Here Undo Chetan offered him small roles, leading to the superstar's debut in 1946 with Hum Ek Hain. While the film failed at the box office, his next release, Ziddi (1948), catapulted him to overnight stardom. Over his illustrious career, he starred in 112 films, delivering timeless classics like Taxi Driver (1954), CID (1956), Paying Guest (1957), Nau Do Gyarah (1957), Kala Paani (1958), Asli-Naqli (1962), Guide (1965), Jewel Thief (1967), Johny Mera Naam (1970), Tere-Mere Sapne (1971), Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), and Heera Panna (1973). The Suraiya chapter In those days, life moved at a gentler rhythm, and emotions carried deep weight. The actor was deeply in love with actress Suraiya, but their romance faced staunch opposition from her family over religious differences. Suraiya chose never to marry, holding on to her enduring affection for him. While shooting Taxi Driver, he developed a fondness for his co-star Mona Singh , who later adopted the screen name Kalpana Karthik. What began as friendship soon blossomed into a quiet, enduring romance. A secret wedding During one lunch break on the set, the duo slipped away unnoticed. When they returned, a keen-eyed cameraman spotted a fresh ring on Dev Anand's finger. With a knowing smile, Dev quietly requested him to keep the secret. It was later revealed that the two had secretly tied the knot. Dev Anand believed marriage was an intimate affair, not something to be turned into a public spectacle. Who was Kalpana Karthik? Kalpana Karthik, born Mona Singha into a Christian-Punjabi family, adopted her screen name when Chetan Anand cast her in Baazi (1951). Before her film debut, she had participated in the Miss Shimla contest, where she first caught Chetan Anand's attention—they were cousins by marriage. Kalpana's brief yet memorable film career featured roles in Andhiyan (1952), Humsafar (1953), Taxi Driver (1954), House No. 44 (1955), and Nau Do Gyarah (1957). Following her marriage to Dev Anand, she stepped away from the spotlight to focus on family life. The couple had two children, Sunil Anand and Debina.
News18
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Who Was Dev Anand's Wife? The Actress Who Crossed Faiths And Starred Only With Him
'Hai apna dil to awara, na jaane kis par aayega…' — a timeless Bollywood lyric immortalised by the evergreen romantic hero, Dev Anand. Incredibly, these words echoed his real life: Dev Anand's off-screen world was just as vibrant as his on-screen persona. He fell for an inexperienced actress during a film shoot and quietly married her, shocking both the film fraternity and his adoring fans. Curious who this little-known heroine was, who defied religious boundaries for love and performed only alongside her one and only leading man? Dev Anand was Bollywood's original style icon, known for his suave delivery, distinctive dialogue, and iconic haircut that many tried to copy. His signature ensemble, black coat over a white shirt, became so peculiar, it even sparked a ban in court proceedings! Hailing from Gurdaspur, Pakistan, Dev Anand graduated in English from Lahore in 1942. He aspired to further his studies, but financial constraints intervened. In 1945, he arrived in Mumbai with merely Rs 20 to his name. Without a proper home, he shared a modest room near the railway station with three other ambitious souls. As his funds dwindled, he took a job at the Military Censor Office, reading soldiers' letters for a salary of Rs 165 per month. About a year later, he turned to his elder brother, Chetan Anand, already a respected figure in cinema. Chetan Anand gave him small roles, and eventually, Dev Anand made his debut in 1946 with Hum Ek Hain. While the film flopped, his next movie, Ziddi (1948), shot him into overnight stardom. He went on to star in 112 films, including timeless classics such as Taxi Driver (1954), CID (1956), Paying Guest (1957), Nau Do Gyarah (1957), Kala Paani (1958), Asli‑Naqli (1962), Guide (1965), Jewel Thief (1967), Johny Mera Naam (1970), Tere‑Mere Sapne (1971), Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971) and Heera Panna (1973). In that era, life moved at a gentler pace and deep feelings reigned supreme. Dev Anand was profoundly in love with Suraiya, although her family opposed their romance due to religious differences. Suraiya never married, remaining devoted to her affection for him. While filming Taxi Driver, Dev Anand fell for his co-star Mona, later rechristened Kalpana Karthik. Their friendship blossomed into love. One lunch break during the shoot, both vanished together. When they reappeared, a sharp-eyed cameraman noticed a new ring on Dev Anand's hand. He was discreet enough to ask the cameraman to keep quiet. Later, it emerged that they had quietly married in secret. Dev Anand didn't want to make a public spectacle of it; marriage, he said, is a private matter. Kalpana Karthik, born Mona Singha into a Christian-Punjabi family, adopted her screen name when Chetan Anand cast her in Baazi (1951). Before entering films, she had competed in the Miss Shimla contest, where she caught Chetan Anand 's eye (they were cousins by marriage).
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Chandigarh event offers rare, personal insight into legacy of iconic siblings — Chetan, Dev and Vijay Anand
Navketan Films' 75-year legacy and the cinematic contributions of the Anand brothers — Chetan, Dev and Vijay — were celebrated through a 90-minute audio-visual presentation at Punjab Kala Bhawan's Randhawa Auditorium in Chandigarh on Saturday. Organised by Katyayani and the Three Arts Club, the event traced the brothers' journey from their Punjabi roots in Gurdaspur to their rise in the film industry of what then was Bombay. Actor and writer Sohaila Kapur — niece of the Anand brothers and daughter of their sister Sheela Kanta Kapur — curated and performed the monologue. Blending archival footage with personal recollections and family history, Sohaila offered an intimate look at the Anands' legacy. 'Their ancestors served in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army. The next generation was granted land in Gharota village for their services. That's where the family grew,' she told The Indian Express. Among the three brothers, she noted, Chetan retained the deepest connection to Punjab. 'I was feeling very nostalgic about the 1950s… Then I realised it was because of my uncles. Their stories needed to be told together,' Sohaila said, reflecting on what led her to create the performance. She also drew upon memories shared by her mother, Sheela Kanta, who she described as 'the most educated and probably the most beautiful' of the siblings. 'She was a working mother,' Sohaila said. Chetan arrived in Bombay in 1943 during a winter break from his teaching job, carrying a film script based on emperor Ashoka's life. Though the script went nowhere, the visit launched his acting career with Rajkumar, directed by Phani Majumdar. He soon joined the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and married fellow member Uma. His directorial debut, 'Neecha Nagar' (1946), went on to win the Grand Prix at the first Cannes Film Festival. Dev Anand followed soon after and debuted in 'Hum Ek Hain'. 'Dev followed Chetan. He was a real admirer… though he probably didn't know he would eventually overtake him careerwise,' Sohaila said. Vijay Anand, the youngest, entered the industry much later. His breakthrough as a director came with 'Nau Do Gyarah', after he had already written dialogues and lyrics for several films. 'There was a public rivalry between the brothers. Not jealousy — but definitely envy,' Sohaila remarked. While Chetan pursued socially conscious cinema, Dev leaned into star-centric storytelling. 'Chetan was cerebral… Dev wanted to enhance 'star'… and Goldie was the balance between the two.' She recounted a key moment during the making of 'Guide', when Dev initially refused to play a non-glamorous role. 'Dev threw a tantrum — he wanted to play Dev the star, not an ordinary man. But Goldie convinced him… and he won the Best Actor award. Dev respected Goldie for his genius. He would call him 'genius'.' The presentation was interspersed with family anecdotes, behind-the-scenes stories, and rare clips from the Anand brothers' films. Sohaila recalled how, as a child, she once asked to become a film star. 'Chetan agreed to cast me as the heroine's younger self in a film, but my mother refused.' She also remembered Dev Anand's magnetic charm: 'Once I asked him which film he was working on. He looked into my eyes and said Asli Naqli. But his hypnotic eyes… I couldn't even look into them.' Sohaila reflected on the enduring relevance of Navketan's themes, particularly a scene from 'Neecha Nagar' showing the diversion of a river for construction. 'It's very familiar to today's demolitions… India is the same as it was 50-60 years ago. Society hasn't changed. Politicians haven't changed,' she said. By weaving together personal memory and cinematic history, Sohaila's performance offered a rare, unified narrative of the three Anand brothers — pioneers who helped shape the grammar of Hindi cinema across three decades. The authors are interns at The Indian Express
