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'He gave directors the status of a star'

February 23, 2004 16:55 IST

A stunned film industry today mourned the death of noted filmmaker Vijay Anand. Anand made a deep impact in the Hindi film industry with films like Guide, Tere Mere Sapne and the action-packed Johnny Mera Naam.

Vijay AnandProducer Gulshan Rai's son Rajiv said it was the success of Johnny Mera Naam which consolidated his father's (and producer of Johnny Mera Naam) position as a leading filmmaker. Vijay was a committed filmmaker and never compromised on principles, he added.

Filmmaker and television personality Ramanand Sagar said Anand was a respected filmmaker and his Guide remains a landmark film in the history of mainstream cinema.

Producer-director Anil Sharma said Anand was a dedicated filmmaker who gave a new dimension into filmmaking by giving a Hollywoodian sheen and gloss to movies with his action-packed Jewel Thief and Ram Balram.

Waheeda Rehman, who acted in Guide, said he was a fascinating filmmaker: "With his deft direction, he balanced the overall tempo of the film."

Bigwigs Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Rajkumar Santoshi said, "With Vijay Anand's death, Bollywood had lost a committed filmmaker."

Director Mahesh Bhatt said, "Vijay Anand's death marks the passing away of a true, original mind. Vijay had charisma and cinematic dazzle. He was the first who gave Indian film directors the status of a star."

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