Navketan, founded in 1949 by the Anand brothers Chetan and Dev – the former an established director, the latter on his way to becoming one of Indian cinema's best-loved leading men. Navketan's debut film, Afsar, was directed by Chetan Anand. It was far from beinga box-office hit.

Younger brother Vijay Anand, also directed numerous films for the company, like Guide (1965), Jewel Thief (1967) and Johny Mera Naam (1970).

After producing over a dozen films directed by various other directors, Dev Anand donned the mantle of director in 1969 with Prem Pujari. With Ishq Ishq Ishq Dev turned writer. Unfortunately, most of the pictures he directed backfired at the box-offce.

The women in Navketan films were characters all their own. When the sacrificing wife, the over-indulgent mother and the sobbing sister were the only characters females would play, Navketan's confident women stood out. “They were forward-thinking, modern, super-confident, not afraid of their sensuality. The sati savitri feel was not there.

He launched his son Suniel Anand with Anand Aur Anand. Navketan offered many talented artistes like the lucky breaks they needed to make it big, like, Zeenat Aman, Zahida, Tina Munim, Raj Khosla, Guru Dutt, Abhijeet etc.