New Delhi:
Describing Dev Anand as a great artiste, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said he was an embodiment of life long passion for acting and film-making.
Joining millions of his fans in condoling his death, he said, "Dev Anand was a great artiste who entertained generations of cinema lovers over five decades."
"He was an embodiment of long passion for acting and film-making. I join millions of his fans in mourning his death," the Prime Minister said in a statement. Political leaders in Maharashtra paid glowing tributes to Indian cinema's legend with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan saying the country has lost an iconic film personality who gave joy to countless movie buffs.
"He will forever be remembered as Hindi cinema's evergreen hero," Chavan said in Mumbai. "When I saw the news on TV (about his death), I was shocked. Devsaab was an idol for us in college days. He was evergreen. We all waited for his films to release. The youth had an attraction for his action and style," Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said. "I got to know him later. True to his name, he always gave `anand' (happiness) to millions. There won't be any other Dev Anand," Deshmukh said.
Be it `Guide', `CID', `Hum Dono or `Johnny Mera Naam', we loved all his films, the senior Congress leader said. Union Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Dev Anand's love for life and cinema will live on through his films. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the 88-year-old screen legend was a gift of God to the film industry and the country. He was active till the end and never stopped making films, Pawar said.
Public Works Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the demise of Devsaab has created a void in Indian cinema. "This is an irreparable loss."