Dev Anand's son Suneil Anand dies at 70: The quiet keeper of a bollywood legacy is no more

Suneil Anand, the son of legendary actor-filmmaker Dev Anand and actress Kalpana Kartik, has died at the age of 70 after suffering a heart attack in London.

His family confirmed the news on Tuesday through a statement shared by his niece, Gina Narang, requesting privacy during this difficult time.

According to reports, Suneil was travelling to India from the United States via the United Kingdom when he suffered a heart attack. He was admitted to a London hospital, where doctors had planned to perform a stent procedure after an initial assessment. However, he reportedly suffered a second heart attack before the surgery could take place. Despite efforts to revive him, he passed away.

In a poignant coincidence, he died at the same hospital where his father, Dev Anand, breathed his last in 2011.

Suneil Anand made his acting debut in 1984 with ‘Anand Aur Anand’, a film directed by his father. He later appeared in films including ‘Car Thief’, ‘Main Tere Liye’, and ‘Master’. Although his acting career did not achieve the success of his father's, he remained closely involved with the family's cinematic legacy.

For more than four decades, Suneil worked behind the scenes, managing Dev Anand's schedule and overseeing the family's iconic production banner, Navketan Films.

He also played a key role in promoting his father's classics, including coordinating the screening of ‘Guide’ at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, where it became the first Indian classic selected for a special showcase.

Ahead of Dev Anand's birth centenary in 2023, Suneil had spend 40 years by his father's side, describing him as a humble, well-read man who could connect with people from every walk of life.

At the time, he had also revealed plans to produce and direct a film dedicated to his father's life and legacy, saying, "The show goes on. I will continue to take my father's legacy forward."