Film fraternity mourns the passing of Dev Anand's son Suneil Anand
The news of the passing of Suneil Anand—son of the legendary Hindi cinema actor, the late Dev Anand—has come as a major shock to the film fraternity. According to initial reports, he passed away on Monday morning following a heart attack at a hospital in London. He was 70 years old. Notably, it was at this very hospital that Dev Anand had also breathed his last in 2011.
Suneil Anand's death was confirmed by writer Anita Padda. She stated that he suffered a heart attack in the morning and passed away while undergoing treatment at the hospital. Padda mentioned that Suneil had settled in London after Dev Anand's demise, and efforts are currently underway to contact the family. She described this as a deeply saddening moment for the film industry.
Suneil Anand was never married and did not have children.
Born into a film family
Suneil Anand was born to the legendary Hindi cinema actor Dev Anand and actress Kalpana Kartik. His family has long been associated with the Indian film industry. His uncles, Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand, were also renowned directors in Hindi cinema. The family includes several prominent figures, such as directors Ketan Anand and Vivek Anand, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, and actresses Neelu and Aruna.
Suneil's mother leading a private life
Kalpana Kartik, mother of Suneil and the wife of Dev Anand and a former actress herself, is leading a quiet and private life at the age of 94.
Born as Mona Singha in Lahore on September 19, 1931, Kalpana Kartik was one of the prominent actresses of the 1950s. She married Dev Anand in 1954. The couple kept their marriage a secret for some time.
Today, Kalpana Kartik remains away from the limelight, spending her time in solitude, engaging in spiritual pursuits, and reading and writing. She is one of the few surviving personalities from the golden era of Hindi cinema.
Suneil Anand has a sister named Devina. She has stayed mostly out of the public eye and away from the media.
Suneil Anand's Bollywood Debut
Suneil completed his studies in Business Administration at American University in Washington, D.C. Subsequently, he decided to pursue a career in acting and made his Bollywood debut in 1984 with the film Anand Aur Anand. Actors such as Raakhee, Smita Patil, and Biswajeet Chatterjee appeared alongside him in the film. However, the movie was not a box-office success, and his subsequent films also failed to achieve the expected success.
Took Charge of Navketan Films
After Dev Anand's passing, Suneil Anand endeavored to carry forward the family banner, Navketan Films. In 2012, he announced the Hollywood project ‘Vagator Mixer,’ which was said to be based on a serious issue like the drug racket in Goa. However, the project did not make much headway. Although Suneil Anand could not achieve the same level of stardom as his father, he endeavored to carry forward the family legacy and contribute to film-making.