When Amitabh Made Dev Anand Wait Outside, Permission Needed to Enter ‘Jalsa’

Dev Anand, one of Bollywood’s most celebrated actors from the 1940s to the 1980s, was a romantic hero and superstar during the 1950s and 1960s. The Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee had recently launched his autobiography Romancing with Life, an event attended by Amitabh Bachchan as a special guest. However, the legendary Dev Anand was made to wait outside the venue before entering—a story that has now resurfaced.

Dev Anand’s Unusual Wait
The incident took place during the launch of Dev Anand’s autobiography. While Amitabh Bachchan was a special guest, he reportedly arrived on stage and left quickly, skipping the dinner that followed. When Dev Anand himself arrived at Jalsa with copies of his book, he had to wait for nearly half an hour before being allowed inside.

Dev Anand’s close friend Mohan Churiwala recalled the incident in a 2007 interview with Vicky Lalwani. He explained that Amar Singh, a family friend of the Bachchans, had promised to bring Amitabh Bachchan to the book launch. Mohan said, “He asked, ‘Shall we call Amitabh ji?’ I said, ‘Yes, call him.’ Amar Singh had assured that Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Ambani, and Tina Ambani would attend.”

Amar Singh’s Dilemma
At the time, Amar Singh was affiliated with the Samajwadi Party, while Maharashtra was governed by Congress under Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. Amidst this, politician T. Subbarami Reddy informed Dev Anand’s team that he would arrive with Deshmukh, which caused Amar Singh some discomfort given his political associations.

No Dinner, Early Exit
Although Amar Singh had promised Dev Anand a dinner, he left before the event concluded. Mohan recalled, “Dev Sahab wondered if anyone had taken offense. After a phone call with Amar Singh, I told him that the books would be delivered inside Jalsa for Ambani, Bachchan, and Amar Singh. But at the last minute, Dev Sahab insisted on coming in person.”

Waiting Outside ‘Jalsa’
Mohan recounted, “When I arrived at Jalsa and honked, the security guard asked the reason for my visit and went inside. He didn’t return for 15 minutes.” Amar Singh took another 10 minutes to come out. Dev Anand reportedly remarked, “It’s taking quite long. Why the delay?” When they finally entered, Amar Singh was still in nightwear, surprising Dev Anand, who hadn’t expected Mohan to bring him along.

Permission Required from the Bachchan Family
Amitabh Bachchan arrived 15 minutes later, likely from his health club. According to Amar Singh, they briefly sat and had tea. In a 2011 conversation with Veer Sanghvi, Amar Singh revealed that Dev Anand had to wait because Jalsa required prior permission from the Bachchan family to admit any guest.

Dev Anand Felt Awkward
Mohan added, “In Veer Sanghvi’s interview, it was mentioned that Dev Sahab had to seek approval from the Bachchan family to bring anyone inside. I’m glad this came to light after his passing. Otherwise, had he known that permission was needed to admit a guest, he would have felt very uncomfortable.”

This incident highlights not just the legendary stature of both stars but also the unique protocol surrounding one of Bollywood’s most iconic homes, Jalsa.