The industry is yet to witness a film star with bigger fandom than actor Dev Anand. In his 60 years long career, the actor ruled the Indian cinema industry and gave the audience variety of movies that are going to be recited for years. The romance was the most impactful persona of Dev Anand’s career and life, that is somewhere the reason why he titled his book Romancing with Life. Women, regardless of their age, would unabashedly swoon over the debonair Dev giving him an added touch of narcissism. But Anand Saheb gave his heart to his wife Kalpana Kartik.
Mona Singh who was given the screen name Kalpana Kartik came into Dev's life when he was trying to get over the pain of heartbreak he felt when his love story ended with his love Suraiya.
Mona came into Dev’s life when his elder brother, Chetan Anand spotted the beauty in Shimla. Hailing from Lahore, Kalpana was a Punjabi Christian who became a minor celebrity after winning the title of Miss Shimla.
Mesmerized by her beauty, Chetan decided to rope her in his movie, as she was looking forward to trying her hands in the movie. The actress made her debut with Chetan’s Baazi in which she starred opposite Dev Anand. After the success of the movie, the career of the actress skyrocketed and she gave blockbusters one after another.
It is said that the superstar of that time, Dev was enamored by her during the making of Baazi itself. He didn’t want to take any chances this time and decided to marry her as soon as she said yes. Trust Dev Anand to do something different. He married her during a shooting break during the filming of Taxi Driver (1954).
This is what he said during an interview with Simi Garewal about his courtship and marriage. “She was beautiful, bubbly, naughty, and educated. We fell in love with each other on the sets of Baazi and decided to get married secretly. Why? Because isn't marriage a very personal affair? We had planned that we'll get married and will not tell anybody and then we'll throw a reception."
They became parents in 1956 when Suneil Anand was born. They were also blessed with a daughter named Devina.
