This Gen-X Millennial making his Bollywood debut is a daringly different dude! Metrosexual, charming and with a lean and toned physique, Dev is a touch apart from the run of the mill debutantes who are a dime a dozen! Third Generation (3G) scion of the Goel family, Dev is the dynamic and dashing grandson of celebrated filmmaker Devendra Goel and son of Producer-Director Jyotin Goel,. He will soon face the camera for Goel Screencraft’s upcoming film, ‘Pri and Me’. The glamorous glares, the styled hairdo and the yuppie look, all of which makes him an attention arrestor, foretells a different kind of a hero never seen before on Indian screens.
And Dev’s talent is all in the genes. Passionate about films and film-making since he was a young boy, Dev literally grew up on film sets. In fact, Dev faced the camera at only the age of 6, as Sanjay Dutt’s son in the hit action-packed film ‘Zahreelay’. Unusually, this multi-faceted actor-film writer also has a fascinating flair for academics, finance and international affairs. But what’s making people talk is that he has already achieved a rare double with his debut! By writing the script and screenplay of his debut film, ‘Pri & Me’, Dev emulates Hollywood superstar Sylvester Stallone (who also wrote his debut film, ‘Rocky’) ! Such a unique combination of multiple talents hits the Bollywood screen after a long time!
Dev’s family’s production houses, Goel Screencraft and Goel Cine Corporation have been producing films since 1948, making it one of the oldest production houses in India! With a rich legacy of golden and silver jubilee hits such as ‘Ek Phool Do Mali’, ‘Dus Lakh’, ‘Aadmi Sadak ka’, and ‘Inaam Dus Hazaar’ as well as classic songs such as ‘Aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai’, ‘Chanda mama door ke’, ‘Garibon ki suno’, ‘Hum bhi agar bachche hote’, you can literally feel the weight of history on him to produce a blockbuster. Of course, Dev seems pretty prepared to face the limelight.
Aware of the expectations riding on him, Dev Goel says, “Entering the Indian film industry as the third generation Goel family member is a privilege, honour and a challenge. ‘Pri & Me’ is special for me because it my debut movie and I am being directed by my own father, Jyotin Goel. But what makes it more special that it is my very own brain child! A debut from the heart! And being compared to Sylvester Stallone, is a rare distinction and honour.”
You might even say it was destiny for him to enter Bombay Scottish School, where future stars such as Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor also studied. In fact, he is one amongst just 15 students (out of 5,000 applicants) who got selected for pursuing his passion for films at an eminent film school in the United States! After graduating with honours in the US, Dev returned, eager to pursue his passion and honed his acting abilities in the prestigious Barry John Acting School.
So, while it seems the telecom industry is placing its bets on profits from 3G technology, it’s likely that with Dev, the film industry is all set to do the same with its very own 3G! Dev, who has been named after his grand-father, wishes to carry the family torch ahead. Though still fresh in Bollywood, Dev’s journey already has emerged as an intriguing history in itself!
