Legendary actor Dev Anand , who’s amazing acting enthralled the viewers over half-a-century, has come in praise for “rejecting a role”, which later kickstarted the career of mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan publicly thanked Dev Anand in London Sunday night for turning down the lead role in Prakash Mehra ’s film Zanjeer 25 years ago, which was then offered to a struggling Amitabh Bachchan, her husband.

The movie went on to make history at the box office, making Amitabh a star with a popular title “angry young man.”

Jaya was launching the autobiography of Dev Anand titled ‘Romancing With Life’ at the Nehru Centre where the ‘evergreen actor’ was complimented by several speakers.

But Jaya, who played the lead female role in the 1973 film, was in a reminiscent mood and thanked Dev Anand “heartily”, for “you gave up Zanjeer”.

Eighty-four year-old Dev Anand, then a leading actor admitted: “Zanjeer was offered to me.”

The hero in Zanjeer typified the raw seething, anger of the youth of the time while also providing, for the first time, some cathartic relief.

According to Prakash Mehra if Zanjeer scored, it was because of the suppressed rage portrayed by the protagonist, played by Amitabh, who was preparing to pack up his bags and return to his native Allahabad if the film failed.

Speaking on the occasion, Monika Kapil Mohta, Director of Nehru Centre described Dev Anand as a “great Indian who has made outstanding contribution to the Indian film industry. He is one of the greatest legends of our time.”

Among the 250 special invitees present at the launch were Lord Navnit Dholakia, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, Lord Karan Billimoria, Co-Chairman of the India-UK Network and G P Hinduja, President of the Hinduja Group.
Sources : http://www.apunkachoice.com/