Plans are already afoot to bring out Dev Anand's classic hit "Hum Dono" (1961) in colour. Now, the evergreen star just might literally pop out of the screen and stroll in the theatre, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his lips, when it is converted into 3D.

"The 3D process is currently being considered for the conversion of 'Hum Dono Rangeen', which will further enhance the value of this invaluable Bollywood classic, giving it new life for future generations of audiences, " said Barry Sandrew, the founder of Legend Films that specialises in colouring Hollywood black and white classics, in a statement.

Retitled as "Hum Dono Rangeen", the hit that saw Dev Anand in a double role opposite Nanda and Sadhana 50 years ago, will first release overseas Jan 28 in its digitally re-mastered coloured version before hitting the Indian screens Feb 4.

The outing, also remembered for its musical lighter and often hummed songs like "Mai zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya" and "Abhi na jaao chhodkar", has been coloured using 65, 000 shades. It will release with Dolby Digital Ex surround sound. Sandrew has colured the movie with state of the art advanced technology in the US.

Impressed by Dev Anand and the movie's "spectacular" new look, Sandrew is now contemplating converting it into 3D.

Dev Anand, 87, is happy with the fact that the young generation will get to see the film.

"It's nostalgic to even think about 'Hum Dono'. I still remember the kind of response we had got when it was released way back in 1961. I am happy that people would be able to relive the experience in a better way and hope the younger generation who has not seen the film would also love it the way the film was loved 50 years back, " said Dev Anand.

Written by Vijay Anand and directed by Amarjeet, "Hum Dono" was the last black and white offering from Navketan Films, which has produced cult films like "Baazi", "Guide", "Prem Pujari", "Tere Ghar Ke Samne" and "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" to name a few.

Legend films have colourised films like "Holiday Inn" (1942), "Reefer Madness" (1936), "Plan 9 From Outer Space" (1959), "Night of the Living Dead" (1968) and other movies owned by the likes of 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures and Paramount Home Entertainment.