The last time I met Dev Anand just before the release of Chargesheet, he had said, "Unless something physical happens to me,u00a0 I will continue working with the same amount of energy.'

At that time even though he looked frail, it was impossible not to believe him. Looks like his heart after all, didn't keep step with his enthusiasm for life. According to people close to him, the failure of Chargesheet is what broke his heart so much, that he uncharacteristically chose to give up on life. What's sadder than his death is, that his spirit broke first. That was a rare indomitable spirit which served him unfailingly all his life.

Whenever he called, he would start with an enthusiastic, 'Hi this is Dev', like a young man just starting on his professional life would. When he was about to start shooting for Chargesheet, he had asked me to accompany him to Mahabaleshwar with the crew. "Let's go," he had said with an enthusiasm which was always infectious, "I just went there to check the locations. The weather is fantastic!" He would never let it occur to you that you are talking to an octogenarian. It felt more like a college buddy inviting you for a picnic. I couldn't manage to go and that would be a regret.