When Dev Anand sent Pritish Nandy a legal notice over ‘Guide’ remake: The film belongs to me, RK Narayan and Vijay Anand

When Dev Anand sent Pritish Nandy a legal notice

On January 8, 2025, Pritish Nandy, a multifaceted luminary who made a lasting impression in a number of creative and professional fields, suffered a cardiac arrest. Given his extensive influence, the news was a huge shock to many different industries.

However, Nandy's prosperous career wasn't without controversy. Despite his accomplishments, he frequently took part in contentious events and public debates. Most of these had little effect on his career, but one incident—the legal battle with renowned actor and filmmaker Dev Anand—attracted a lot of media attention and public attention.

The controversy surfaced during the final stages of Nandy’s 2006 romantic thriller Ankahee, directed by Vikram Bhatt. The film, produced by Nandy and his wife Rina Nandy under the banner of Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC), was nearing release. During this period, Nandy announced another ambitious project—a film tentatively titled Rahgir or Rehguzar—with renowned Bengali director Rituparno Ghosh at the helm.

This announcement stirred confusion in the media. Several reports erroneously suggested that Nandy was planning to remake Dev Anand’s 1965 cinematic classic Guide, itself based on R.K. Narayan’s acclaimed novel The Guide. The film remains one of the most revered works in Indian cinema, noted for its complex portrayal of love, transformation, and spiritual awakening.

The speculation triggered a strong response from Dev Anand, who promptly issued a legal notice to Pritish Nandy, cautioning him against producing what he believed was an unauthorised remake of Guide. The notice caused quite a stir, not just because of the stature of the personalities involved, but also due to the cultural reverence attached to Guide.

In his official response, Nandy firmly denied any intention of remaking Guide. Addressing the matter with the press, he stated unequivocally:
"As I have explained to Dev, we are not remaking Guide. Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC), our director Rituparno Ghosh and I have consistently denied that Rahgir is a remake of Guide. We are remaking only one classic - Bimal Mitra's Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, and we've obtained the author's family's permission for the same. If we were remaking Guide, we'd have got the rights to do so."

Despite the initial friction, the issue was eventually resolved amicably. However, Nandy later expressed his displeasure over the legal route taken by Dev Anand. He described the legal notice as "impolite" and maintained that the only parallel between Rahgir and Guide was the narrative thread involving a romantic relationship between a man and a married woman—hardly enough, in his view, to claim it as a remake.

For his part, Dev Anand also clarified his stance during an interview with rediff.com. He spoke candidly about the episode and offered insight into why the project had struck such a nerve:
“I was a little touchy about Guide because of the spiritual success that the film received.” He added, “No one can remake Guide because Guide belongs to me, RK Narayan and Vijay Anand.”

Even though the case may not have gone to court, it sent a powerful message to the industry: some films are so deeply personal and important to history that any attempt to reinterpret them needs to be done with extreme caution and clarity. The episode also demonstrated how, even after several decades, artistic legacies—especially those associated with legends like Dev Anand—retain their emotional and political clout.

In the end, the incident continues to be a significant chapter in Pritish Nandy's vibrant career, which has been influenced by both his unreserved boldness and his creative flair. Nandy was never scared to push boundaries, even if it meant navigating the occasional storm, whether it was in poetry, parliament, filmmaking, or publishing. His works, both praised and criticised, bear witness to a man who defied categorisation and who lived, produced, and discussed with unparalleled fervour.