Suneil Anand, the filmmaker and actor born to legendary Hindi cinema couple Dev Anand and Kalpana Kartik, died in London after suffering a heart attack, a family member said on Tuesday.
He was 70.
Suneil suffered a heart attack in London while en route to India from the US, with the UK as a transit stop.
Issuing a statement on behalf of the family, niece Gina Narang, in a statement, said, “With heavy hearts, our family mourns the passing of Suneil Anand. We are comforted by the outpouring of love, prayers, and support, for which we are truly grateful. We kindly request privacy as we navigate this difficult time together.”
Providing further details, Dev Anand’s close friend Mohan Churiwala told PTI, “He passed away in London on July 26 due to heart attack. Dev sahab’s daughter Devina is heading to London.”
Suneil made his acting debut in the 1984 film , directed by his father, Dev Anand. He later starred in films such as , , and .
Following Dev Anand’s death in 2011 at the age of 88, Suneil Anand took charge of Navketan Films.
Speaking ahead of Dev Anand’s birth centenary in 2023, Suneil said he devoted 40 years of his life to caring for his father, managing his schedule, and running Navketan Films.
“I even coordinated taking our classic movie to the Cannes Film Festival in 2008. It was the first Indian classic to be selected by the Cannes committee to be showcased at the festival. It was a major milestone for dad, for us, Navketan and India,” he said.
Reflecting on his father’s legacy, Suneil described him as a “well-read and well-informed man.”
“He could converse on any topic with anyone in any crowd. He was as at ease with the man on the street as he was with royalty. He was very humble. It is difficult to be humble when you are such a big star. He was the best of both worlds,” Suniel had further noted.
In his role as a filmmaker, Suneil had shared plans for a film that would pay tribute to his father.
“It’s a huge movie dedicated to my father. I am producing and directing. The show goes on. I will continue to take my father’s legacy forward,” Suniel had shared.
Suneil is survived by his mother, Kalpana Kartik, and sister, Devina.