When Dev Anand, Kalpana Kartik secretly got married during the middle of shoot

Dev Anand, who ruled Hindi Cinema with his flamboyance and energy for over 30 years at his prime, was linked with many of his co-stars. However, the actor was in a steady marriage with wife Kalpana Kartik for over 50 years. The story of how the two got married is story chapter out of a movie in itself.

Dev Anand, Kalpana Kartik began courting during Taxi Driver shoot

Dev Anand and Kalpana Kartik first met on the sets of the 1951 movie Baazi, which was directed by legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt who made his debut with this film. Reportedly, before the film’s shoot began, Dev Anand was going through a grief-filled phase after breaking up with his co-star Suraiyya. However, As Dev Anand and Kalpana Kartik shot with each other for Baazi, Dev was enamoured with his co-star right away. 

Yet, it was not until their next collaboration in the film Taxi Driver that Dev Anand and Kalpana Kartik began their courtship. The film was directed by Dev’s elder brother Chetan Anand. Dev Anand eventually popped the big question to Kalpana while they were still shooting for Taxi Driver. And when Kalpana said yes, Dev Anand suggested a wacky idea to Kalpana for their marriage - he suggested that they exchange rings between their shoot, right there.

We went into our depa

We went into our departmental room and got married, Anand recalled later

Kalpana agreed, and Dev Anand called for a marriage registrar on the sets. Dev Anand later recalled on a talk show, “I had the ring in my pocket. We had asked the registrar to come there. In between the breaks when the lighting was being done on the sets, I signalled to her, we went into our departmental room, got married and came back. But, the cameraman... knew of my affair with her and therefore he was so confident. I said 'shut up, don't speak about this... later, let's take the shot first.”

Dev Anand and Kalpana Kartik became parents to two children - a son whom they named Suniel and a daughter named Devina. The couple stayed married for over 55 years, until the death of Dev Anand who passed away due to a heart attack in December 2011.