Evergreen actor Dev Anand was a part of many epic films like Guide (1965,) Jewel Thief (1967) and Johny Mera Naam (1970.)  However, what many people are not aware of is his own life was nothing less than a Bollywood film.  During the beginning of his career, the talented actor was romantically involved with the renowned actress and singer Suraiya.  Their love story was filled with love, passion and tragedy.

Their first meeting

In the late 1940s, Dev Anand, an aspiring actor, first met Suraiya on the sets of Vidya, which was their first film together.  Dev Anand instantly fell in love with the beautiful and down to earth Suraiya and later revealed she was his first love.

Although Suraiya was smitten with the young and handsome actor, it was an accident on the set of Vidya which cemented her love for Dev Anand.  While shooting a scene in a boat, which suddenly capsized, Suraiya was saved by Dev Anand from drowning. 

According to Suraiya, when she thanked Dev Anand for saving her life, the handsome actor replied, “If your life had ended, so would have mine.”  Suraiya describes that as the exact moment when she fell deeply in love with Dev Anand.

Their separation

Although they managed to keep their association a secret for two long years, their relationship became public news during the shooting of Afsar in 1950.  This revelation led to many problems in their relationship, mainly by Suraiya’s orthodox grandmother, Badshah Begum, as she did not want her granddaughter to marry a Hindu man.

With the dream of starting a new life together, the duo decided to elope during the shoot of their film Jeet.  The news reached Badshah Begum, who dragged Suraiya from the shoot and kept a strict watch on the love birds after that, in an effort to end their relationship.

Many years later, while recalling the incident Suraiya confessed, “Eventually, my grandmother succeeded in separating us. Dev was deeply hurt and offended by my lack of courage. But I was afraid for him. In retrospect, I don’t think anything would have happened if I’d been bold enough. But I was terrified of my grandmother. And was heartbroken.”

Although the couple faced many problems from Suraiya’s orthodox grandmother, they found support from an unlikely source.  Suraiya’s mother, Mumtaz Begum, was a strong supporter of their relationship. However, just like Suraiya, Mumtaz Begum also did not have any courage to go against her mother.

The last meeting

Suraiya’s mother was also the one who arranged the couple’s last meeting on the terrace of Suraiya’s apartment.  The couple met secretly to end their four year long relationship, all the while crying and hugging each other.  Dev Anand later confessed that after breaking up with Suraiya, he cried on his brother’s shoulder and later decided to forget the chapter and move forward in life. 

With this, the amazing and passionate love story of Dev Anand and Suraiya ended on a sad note.

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