Hrishikesh Mukherjee was a brilliant director. The films he directed could make you cry, they could make you laugh, and they could make you laugh even while you cried. Some of his most notable films include Anari(1959), Anuradha (1960), Asli Naqli(1962, Anupama(1966), Aashirwad(1968), Satyakam(1969))., Guddi (1971), Bawarchi (1972), Abhimaan (1973), Namak Haraam (1973), Mili (1975), Chupke Chupke (1975), Gol Maal (1979), Khubsoorat(1980) and Anand(1971)
This film Anand was in his mind for many years, he wanted to cast Raj Kapoor as Anand but it couldn't be materialized. He then thought of Kishore Kumar as Anand and Mehmood as Babu Moshai. The term "Babu Moshai" means "a great gentleman." Raj Kapoor often affectionately addressed Hrishikesh Mukherjee with this term, just as Anand addresses Banerjee in the film. There is also a story about how Kishore Kumar couldn't become Anand.
Hrishikesh Mukherjee went to sign Kishore Kumar for the film after discussing the project with him. On reaching Kishore Kumar's house his watchman did not allow Hrishi Da to enter the bungalow. As Kishore Kumar had instructed him not to allow a Bengali man inside the bungalow who would come to meet him. Kishore Kumar had done a musical concert for a Bengali organizer who did not pay him and they both had a fight. His watchman mistook Hrishikesh Mukherjee of being that Bengali man. When the shooting for the film started Kishore Kumar came to know about it and went to meet Hrishikesh Mukherjee and asked him why didn't he come to sign him when Hrishikesh Mukherjee told him the reason. Kishore Kumar went and blasted his watchman. The incident hurt Mukherjee and he decided not to work with Kishore Kumar. Consequently, Mehmood had to leave the film as well. Rajesh Khanna.was offered the role, by that time he became a superstar. This film was shot in 28 days. Rajesh Kanna was a very busy actor by that time, even then he gave Hrishi Da the uninterrupted dates to him. Rajesh Khanna had great regards for him, he wanted to work with him. He worked with him in his subsequent films Bawarchi(1972) and Namak Haram(1973).
The film was successful and got the National Award as Best Film and also many Filmfare awards such as Best Film, Best Actor,(Rajesh Khanna), Best Supporting Actor(Amitabh Bachchan), Best Dialogue(Gulzar), Best Editor(Hrishikesh Mukharjee), and Best Story(Hrishikesh Da) Seldom do we come across films that get it all right and that is what makes Anand immortal, as Dr. Bhaskar says in the end after writing his book on his inspiration—Anand mara nahi, Anand marte nahi (Anand hasn’t died, people like Anand don’t die)
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