The ageless wonder

Old age is an issue of mind over matter; if you don't mind it, it doesn't matter. And actor Dev Anand definitely doesn't mind it. Bollywood's oldest chocolate hero, who celebrated his 87th birthday at a quiet weekend getaway this Sunday, continues his romance with the movies.


WHO: Dev Anand WHAT: Talking about romance and the movies
WHERE: At his Khar office

"This year I wanted a small break as I have had a hectic few months winding up my upcoming film Chargesheet. I would like to spend this week introspecting." We spoke to this evergreen actor about his romantic streak:

Down memory lane
Every year I have quite a few visitors coming over to meet me on my birthday. My entire Bandra studio is full of people. But this year, it's under renovation and I am operating from a makeshift office, which is much smaller. I simply can't entertain too many people here. That is one of the main reasons why I decided to move out of Mumbai for my birthday. But I will meet all of them once I get back in town. It's a promise.

Back in my childhood days, we didn't have the tradition of blowing candles and cake cutting at my home in Gurdaspur, Punjab. My birthdays used to be either at home or at my boarding school in Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, where we used to be pampered on our birthdays with cakes, sweets and the works.u00a0

Romance ka raaz
I have no regrets in life. Even today, I am as positive and optimistic as I was in my younger days. I believe that a person is happy as long as he's working and active in life. As far as being labelled as a romantic hero is concerned, I believe it's because of the films. You can't make films if you don't have a romantic streak in you.

And at the end of it, who doesn't love to have a sense of romance in life, whether it's the youth or the elderly.
Trust me; I have had a great life. I have witnessed India's independence and my country's phenomenal economic and intellectual growth.u00a0

Keeping busy
Well, film-making keeps me busy. It covers a lot of my hobbies like music, photography, writing, etc so work's always fun. Otherwise, I enjoy travelling. New York is one of my favourite destinations. The sheer scale of the city sweeps you off your feet.

I also love the vintage charm of Edinburgh in Scotland. If I am in India, I like to holiday close to the Himalayas in places like Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, etc.u00a0