He was born Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand and became known as Dev Anand was an actor, director, writer and producer who is considered one of the best known individuals in Hindi movies. His tryst with his own destiny came in the late 1940s, when he starred opposite reigning queen Suraiya in 7 films: Vidya (1948), Jeet (1949), Shair (1949), Afsar (1950), Nili (1950), Do Sitare (1951) and Sanam (1951), all box office successes. Love bloomed when the song Kinare kinare chale jayenge from Vidya was being shot and Dev Anand saved Suraiya from drowning. Sadly, the romance went nowhere since they were of different faiths.

Romance and the actor became a hit team with films like Manzil, Tere Ghar Ke Samne, Mahal, Teen Deviyaan and others. But the big love story was Guide, in which Dev Anand worked with Waheeda Rehman; it was his first colour film. Jewel Thief and Johny Mera Naam followed, both doing well critically and commercially. He became a director with Prem Pujari and went on to make Hare Rama Hare Krishna and more such off-centre subjects.

Part of Dev Anand’s magic came from the songs that he was associated with, in films that he worked in or directed. Here are 5 numbers to remember the icon by on what would have been his 96th birthday…
 

• Dum maaro dum (Hare Rama Hare Krishna)

• Dil Ka Bhawar Kare Pukar (Tere Ghar Ke Samne)

Yeh dil na hota Bechara (Jewel Thief)

Pal bhar ke liye koi hume pyaar karle (Johny Mera Naam)

Khoya Khoya Chand Khula Aasman (Kala Bazar)