Legendary actor Dev Anand was born on September 26, 1923, and September 26, 2026 marks his 103rd birth anniversary. The evergreen Hindi-film star married actress Kalpana Kartik, while his most famous early romance was with actress-singer Suraiya, whom he later described in his autobiography as his “first true love.”
Dev Anand's personal life has continued to attract interest decades after his death in 2011, particularly his relationship with Suraiya, his marriage to Kalpana Kartik and reports about his feelings for Zeenat Aman.
How many wives did Dev Anand have?
Dev Anand had one wife, actress Kalpana Kartik, whose real name was Mona Singha.
The two worked together in several films, including Baazi, Taxi Driver and Nau Do Gyarah. They married privately in 1954 while Taxi Driver was being made. They had two children, Suneil Anand and Devina Anand.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Dev Anand's wife | Kalpana Kartik |
| Kalpana Kartik's birth name | Mona Singha |
| Marriage | 1954 |
| Son | Suneil Anand |
| Daughter | Devina Anand |
| Dev Anand's first major romance | Suraiya |
Who was Dev Anand's first love?
Suraiya is widely described as Dev Anand's first great love.
The two were romantically involved from around 1948 to 1951 and appeared together in several films. Their relationship became one of the most talked-about romances of early Hindi cinema, but they never married because of opposition from Suraiya's family. Dev Anand later called Suraiya his “first true love” in his autobiography.
The relationship reportedly became serious enough that the two considered marriage and elopement. However, opposition from Suraiya's maternal grandmother and uncle prevented the relationship from progressing to marriage.
Was Dev Anand in love with Zeenat Aman?
Dev Anand had a strong affection for Zeenat Aman, but describing it simply as a conventional mutual love affair would be misleading.
Aman became closely associated with Dev Anand after he cast her in Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), a film that became an important turning point in her career. Biographical accounts have described Dev Anand as having developed feelings for Aman, while accounts of the relationship distinguish his feelings from a confirmed long-term romantic relationship between the two.
Dev Anand also wrote about his relationships and feelings in his autobiography Romancing with Life. His connection with Zeenat therefore remains part of the larger story of his personal and professional life, but it should not be presented as a confirmed marriage or established long-term partnership.
What was Dev Anand's last wish?
One of the most frequently reported wishes associated with Dev Anand concerned how he wanted to be remembered after his death.
According to a report quoting his niece Manju Gargi, Dev Anand did not want his dead face to be shown to fans. His wish was fulfilled because he died in London, away from the intense media attention that might otherwise have surrounded his final moments.
Hindustan Times also reported in 2011 that a friend said Anand's wish was not to have images of his dead body shown publicly.
This is different from claims sometimes circulated online about other “last wishes” attributed to him. The most consistently reported specific wish concerns not showing his face after death.
Who was Dev Anand's wife Kalpana Kartik?
Kalpana Kartik was an actress who worked with Dev Anand in several successful films during the 1950s.
Born Mona Singha, she was introduced to films through Chetan Anand and adopted the screen name Kalpana Kartik. She appeared opposite Dev Anand in films including Baazi, Aandhiyan, Taxi Driver, House No. 44 and Nau Do Gyarah.
The couple married quietly in 1954. After marriage, Kalpana largely stepped away from acting. Their children are Suneil Anand and Devina Anand.
Who was Vijay Anand's first wife?
This is one area where online accounts can be confusing.
Vijay Anand, Dev Anand's younger brother and the director of films such as Guide, Jewel Thief and Johny Mera Naam, later married Sushma Kohli, who was his niece—the daughter of his older sister.
Available biographical accounts state that Vijay Anand had an earlier marriage that ended before his marriage to Sushma Kohli. However, the sources reviewed here do not provide sufficiently reliable, consistent information about the identity and details of his first wife.
What is well documented is that Vijay Anand and Sushma Kohli married later in his life despite family opposition, and they had a son, Vaibhav Anand.
Did Vijay Anand marry his niece?
Yes. Vijay Anand married Sushma Kohli, the daughter of his older sister.
This means Sushma was his niece by family relationship. Their marriage attracted considerable attention and opposition because uncle-niece marriages of this kind are socially unacceptable in many parts of India. Biographical accounts state that the couple nevertheless remained together and had a son, Vaibhav Anand.
It is important to distinguish this from Dev Anand's own marriage history: Dev Anand did not marry his niece.
How is Tabu related to Dev Anand?
Tabu's connection to Dev Anand is primarily professional, rather than a direct blood relationship.
Dev Anand gave Tabu an early acting opportunity in his film Hum Naujawan (1985), when she was still a child. His Navketan banner was also known for giving opportunities to several actors and filmmakers who later became prominent in Hindi cinema.
Therefore, claims that Tabu was a member of Dev Anand's immediate family should not be confused with the documented professional connection between the two.
Who was Dev Anand's first true love?
Suraiya was the woman Dev Anand himself described as his “first true love.”
Their romance began while they were working together in the late 1940s. They reportedly wanted to marry, but family opposition prevented them from doing so. Suraiya remained unmarried throughout her life, while Dev Anand eventually married Kalpana Kartik in 1954.
Their relationship remained an important part of Dev Anand's personal story even after they went their separate ways.
Who is Anjali Anand's father?
Anjali Anand is a different person from Dev Anand's daughter, Devina Anand.
Anjali Anand is a contemporary Indian actress known for television and film work. She should not be confused with Dev Anand's daughter Devina Anand.
[NEEDS SOURCE: The identity of Anjali Anand's parents should be verified through a reliable biographical source before publishing a specific parentage claim.]
This distinction is particularly important because the surname “Anand” is shared by several unrelated people in Indian entertainment.
What was Dev Anand's family like?
Dev Anand came from the Anand family, one of Hindi cinema's best-known film families.
His brothers included Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand. His sister Sheel Kanta Kapoor was the mother of filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, making Kapur Dev Anand's nephew.
The family subsequently became connected to several generations of actors, directors and filmmakers.
Dev Anand's key relationships and family connections
| Person | Relationship to Dev Anand |
|---|---|
| Suraiya | First major love/romantic partner |
| Kalpana Kartik | Wife |
| Suneil Anand | Son |
| Devina Anand | Daughter |
| Chetan Anand | Older brother |
| Vijay Anand | Younger brother |
| Sheel Kanta Kapoor | Sister |
| Shekhar Kapur | Nephew |
| Zeenat Aman | Actress he launched/promoted; reports also discuss his feelings for her |
| Tabu | Actress Dev Anand gave an early film opportunity to |
What makes Dev Anand's love story different from his screen image?
Dev Anand's screen persona was closely associated with romance, but his real-life relationships had a very different trajectory.
His relationship with Suraiya never resulted in marriage, while his eventual marriage to Kalpana Kartik lasted for the rest of his life. His professional relationship with Zeenat Aman became another frequently discussed chapter because he played an important role in her early career.
These different relationships are often mixed together in online discussions, which is why separating confirmed marriage, documented romance and professional association is important.
Q&A: Dev Anand's Personal Life
How many wives did Dev Anand have?
Dev Anand had one wife, Kalpana Kartik. They married in 1954 and had two children, Suneil and Devina Anand.
Who was Dev Anand's first love?
Suraiya was his most famous early love, and Dev Anand later described her as his “first true love.”
Did Dev Anand love Zeenat Aman?
Accounts of Dev Anand's life describe him as having strong feelings for Zeenat Aman, whom he launched with Hare Rama Hare Krishna. However, their relationship should not be described as a confirmed marriage or long-term partnership.
What was Dev Anand's last wish?
Reports from his death in 2011 said that he did not want photographs or footage of his dead face shown publicly.
Our Take
Dev Anand's personal history is almost as layered as his six-decade film career. The clearest distinction is between his one marriage to Kalpana Kartik, his famous early romance with Suraiya, and his later professional and personal connection with Zeenat Aman.
The Anand family story also extends beyond Dev himself, with brothers Chetan and Vijay Anand and nephew Shekhar Kapur becoming important figures in Hindi cinema. Some frequently searched family claims, however, are poorly documented online and should not be presented as fact without stronger sources.