• In :
• Personal Growth

June 1997

By Life Positive

Yesteryear’s matinee idol on the secrets of his eternal youth

My keeping and looking young is by no means a guarded secret. It is a reflection of my attitude of optimism—an attitude of looking forward to every single day of life, even to failures, and an urge to do better than the previous day. This is the crux of creativity, and I believe that all creative people can and should remain young at heart.

Ageing is in the mind. While no one can escape the physical onslaught of age, the mind can remain young forever and this, in turn, can postpone physical ageing to a great extent. I am in a business where my mind has to think young, at par with the times. For this, I have never needed any techniques or practices, either spiritual or physical. Of course, as I have to project myself on the screen, where people expect me to look good and fit, there is a conscious attempt on my part to remain youthful.

The recipe is easy: overall self-discipline. I abstain from alcohol and cigarettes, avoid over-eating and do some regular stretching exercises.

I do not remember encountering any spiritual or psychic experience, which has changed my life. Nor have I ever resorted to any kind of mysticism or sought solace at the feet of a guru. The source of my energy is my experience through work: it fills me with tremendous energy. I can never, however, deny a goading force within me, a force that is inexplicable— maybe this is what you call God, or an eternal guiding power. Today, I can work 14 to 15 hours a day. And enjoy every minute of scripting, editing conceptualizing projects and meeting people.

I crave movement—the movement of the mind. My mind is dying to think, create, experience, travel. This is the source of my energy, and gives me confidence that no one or nothing can erase my mind or age it. Tomorrow, perhaps, I may have to stop making movies due to reasons unavoidable, but others vistas of work will open. I long to write books and articles.

Mark my words; I am here to stay, loving what I do and doing what I love. I will certainly not be contained in the prison of conventional old age.

By Dev Anand, Indian filmstar