Guru Dutt Padukone was born in Mysore in South India on July 9, 1925, to middle-class but intellectual parents. He had his early education in Calcutta before doing basic training with dance maestro Uday Shankar after which he joined Prabhat Studios. It was here that he got a break as a choreographer with the film Hum Ek Hain (1946 ), the launching pad of friend and actor Dev Anand. Rumour has it they met at Prabhat when their shirts got mixed up by the dhobi! A friendship blossomed wherein Dev Anand promised him that if ever he produced a film, Guru Dutt would direct and should Guru direct, Dev would play the leading man! From Prabhat Guru Dutt moved on to Famous Studios and then on to Bombay Talkies. His close friend from Prabhat, Dev Anand (now a star), who had launched his own banner 'Navketan', invited him to direct a film for him thus keeping his share of the promise. 1951 saw the release of Baazi Guru Dutt's directorial debut. The film starring Dev Anand, Geeta Bali and Kalpana Kartik was a trend setter regarded as the forerunner of the spate of urban crime films that followed in Bollywood in the 1950s. Its songs, sung mainly by well known playback singer of the times Geeta Roy, were runaway hits. In fact Guru Dutt and Geeta Roy met during the song recording of Baazi and fell in love marrying on the 26th of May,1953. Baaz in 1953 saw Guru Dutt make his debut as leading man and he went on to act as well as direct.

Aar Paar released in 1954 established Guru Dutt as a director to reckon with. Followed some of his best work Mr. and Mrs 55, Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool but the last mentioned was a dismal failure at the box office and a dejected Guru Dutt never directed a film again. He continued to produce films and act in both home and outside productions. But never did he ever give his name in the credits as director again. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam though credited to writer Abrar Alvi bears his unmistakable stamp. The film won the President's silver medal as well as the film of the year award from the Bengal Film Journalists Association. However Guru Dutt's personal life was a shambles. He had separated from his wife allegedly due to his involvement with his discovery and leading actress Waheeda Rehman and on Oct. 10, 1964 he took an overdose of sleeping pills and committed suicide though doubts linger as to whether his death was accidental. Indian cinema had lost one of its greats. At the time of his death Guru Dutt was starring in Love and God and in Baharein Phir Bhi Aayengi, a home production. Both the films were ultimately completed by different actors, Sanjeev Kumar and Dharmendra respectively.