London, December 4
Basking in the glow of the success of 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' in 1971, Dev Anand, the ever-romantic hero, soon realised that he was in love with the film's leading lady and his discovery Zeenat Aman.

Describing his feelings for Zeenat, Dev Anand wrote in his autobiography, 'Romancing With Life' that he enjoyed it when newspapers and magazines started linking them together romantically after the film's success.

He almost declared his love to her, but quietly withdrew when he saw her getting close to Raj Kapoor, who wanted to cast her in his film 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'.

Some years later, Dev Anand admitted he felt jealous when Raj Kapoor kissed Zeenat in full view of the invited audience at the premiere of his next film 'Ishq Ishq Ishq'.

He soon realised that he was in love with her and wanted to declare it to her at a romantic meeting at the Taj in Mumbai.

He wrote: "Suddenly, one day I felt I was desperately in love with Zeenat - and wanted to say so to her! I chose the Rendezvous at the Taj,where we had dined together once earlier."

Dev Anand wrote that he called up Zeenat and arranged to go to the meeting place where "a drunken Raj Kapoor .. threw his arms around her exuberantly. This suddenly struck me as a little too familiar. And the way she reciprocated his embrace seemed much more than just polite and courteous."

Dev Anand recalled that a rumour had been floating that Zeenat had gone to Raj Kapoor's studio for a screen test for his new movie 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'.

The situation changed further for Dev Anand when Raj Kapoor, "in drunken joviality", told Zeenat: "You are breaking your promise that you will always be seen by me only in a white sari." A dejected Dev Anand wrote: "More embarrassment was written large on her face, and Zeenat was not the same Zeenat for me any more. My heart broke into pieces... The rendezvous had already lost all meaning in my mind. I sneaked out of the place." — PTI