Dev Anand's last wish: Don't show me dead

MUMBAI: Dev Anand, the actor the cameras loved for his good looks and charm, did not want his face after death shown to the public, a close family friend told Hindustan Times.

“It was his express wish not to be seen dead. He did not want to be exposed to the camera any more once he was gone,” the family friend said on Wednesday, giving details of the Bollywood veteran’s final moments.

Anand, 88, died of a heart attack on Saturday night in a London hotel room.

The actor had come to the city for a short holiday after the release of his latest film, Chargesheet. “He just wanted to walk around and not be mobbed... to relax and think,” the friend said.

On Saturday night, accompanied by his son Suneil and UK representative Kenny Muir, Anand ate his last meal at an Indian restaurant in central London, not far from the plush Washington Mayfair hotel where he was staying.

“It was a favourite restaurant of his and he had a pretty healthy meal,” the friend said. It was a “very Punjabi affair” — chana masala, bhindi, chicken, tandoori roti and plain rice.

The three men returned to the hotel at around 9pm (London time) and Suneil went up to the room with his father while Muir went to the business centre to check emails. Anand, who was being treated by a top Harley Street doctor, fell ill soon after.

As the hotel staff called for nurses and paramedics, Anand, held by Suneil and Muir, became unconscious and died soon after, at around 10pm. The paramedics arrived but were unable to resuscitate him.

"It was a very, very peaceful end," the friend said. "There was no struggle."

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Neha Dhupia dedicates role to backup dancers

MUMBAI: Actor, who plays a junior artiste in Pappu Can’t Dance Saala, feels their work often goes unrecognised. She plays Mehek Malvade, a backup dancer in Saurabh Shukla’s upcoming film, Pappu Can’t Dance Saala. And while playing the role, Neha Dhupia realised how much hard work and struggle goes into becoming one.

As a result, the actor has dedicated her role to all the backup dancers in Bollywood.

The story goes like this: At a recent TV show, when the actor met up with senior choreographer Saroj Khan and her team of dancers, Neha made sure that she went up to Khan and told her that her character in the film is a tribute to all backup dancers.

“Since Neha has been working in the industry for a long time, she knows that backup dancers put in a lot of effort to make songs look great. But when it comes to getting appreciation, they are hardly recognised. And when she experienced it for herself in Pappu Can’t Dance Saala, she was surprised to see the struggle involved,” says a member from Neha’s entourage.

When contacted, Neha agreed that these dancers often go unrecognised in Bollywood.

“I would like to dedicate Pappu Can’t Dance Saala to all background dancers in the industry. They play a very important role but are often not given due credit. My character and the film is for them,” she says.

Shukla’s first mass entertainer, Pappu Can’t Dance Saala is a story of two people from extremely different backdrops who, for the sake of love, come together.

Apart from Neha, the film also stars Vinay Pathak and Rajat Kapoor. The film releases on December 16.

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Karisma to star in Satte Pe Satta remake

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Karisma Kapoor, who is making her comeback on the silver screen after a hiatus, will be stepping in the shoes of veteran actress Hema Malini for the remake of Satte Pe Satta.

Reportedly, Vidya Balan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit were approached for the role essayed by Hema in the yesteryear hit.

"I am doing Satte Pe Satta. The film will start soon," Karisma told reporters here, after announcing her association with oneline store - Babyoye.

Actor Sanjay Dutt will be playing the role of Amitabh Bachchan and will also produce the film.

Satte Pe Satta, is a 1982, Amitabh Bachchan-Hema Malini film. The film is a story of seven brothers.

Karisma turned investor with BabyOye, one of the leading online store for baby products. The association is with Arunima Singhdeo, a businesswoman.

Babyoye, is a online store for baby and mother care products, Karisma is the co-investor in the company.

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Posted in: ENTERTAINMENT