“I will remake ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’”

L-R: Dev Anand, With Zeenat Aman (left) in “Hare Rama Hare Krishna”.

Dev Anand will turn 87 next month but the actor-director-producer shows no sign of slowing down. Recently, he launched his new film, “Charge-Sheet.”
So, where does he get all this energy to still make films and act in the lead role? The octogenarian actor talked about this and a range of other subjects in a recent interview.
What does cinema mean to you?
Dev Anand: Cinema is entertainment. Cinema is a thought that makes you think about life. Cinema is the world to me.
What keeps you going?
Dev Anand: My futuristic thoughts and my films. Plus, the thought that the work which I do is something the world will see and give a verdict on. I have finished making “Charge-Sheet” but the film is not yet released. I am working on my next film now.
Energy begets energy. If you are lazy, you will always be lazy. And if you retire at 60, you will die at 65. It is written in a holy book that you if have a life of 100 years, you should use it. At this age of 86, my mind is getting sharper. I have 60 years experience in the film line and I still use that to make my films. People make films and if they flop, they get a heart attack. But here I am still making films.
Which film is very close to your heart?
Dev Anand: All my films are very close to my heart. But this year my film “Hum Dono” will release again in colour. I like that and “Hare Rama Krishna”, “Guide” and “Desh Pardes”.
Will you allow your films to be remade?
Dev Anand: I will not give my films for remake. I refused giving rights of “Guide”. I said that whatever you do you cannot make a better film than what I have made.
Will you remake any of your films?
Dev Anand: Very soon I will make another version of “Hare Rama Hare Krishna”, set in Nepal . The script is ready. When I had gone there, people had said they want another “Hare Rama Hare Krishna”. If people can make Malayalam and Telugu remakes, why can't I make a new version of “Hare Rama Krishna”?
If hippies were the trend of 1970s, there are drugs even today. That story was different. This will be different, because I will have to look at today's trends and the story.
What is your latest film “Charge-Sheet” about?
Dev Anand: It is a murder mystery. I play a CBI officer. I will not tell the story, otherwise I will lose my audience.