Bollywood's evergreen hero Dev Anand is ready for a new role.

After having straddled the Hindi film industry for six decades, romanced some of its most beautiful stars and transformed into a director from a matinee idol, Dev Anand will now turn author.

In October, after his new film "Mr Prime Minister" hits the screen, the 82-year-old will finally pen the story of his eventful career, starting from how he arrived in India's tinsel town Mumbai from Lahore in Pakistan in the 1940s "without a penny in his pocket" and became one of its most enduring icons.

Besides his personal life, the autobiography will also unfold the tale of India's transformation from a British colony to a sovereign republic.

"I have something to say," said the impassioned actor who was in Kathmandu recently to receive an award from the Nepalese Film Development Board.

"I came to Mumbai in 1943, became a star in 1945 and in 1947 saw India become independent. Alongside my own growth, I have seen India reach her maturity."

Though he started writing years ago, the autobiography threatened to stay unfinished because he had so much to say.

"I thought the book would never finish because it is the story of Dev Anand, and Dev Anand keeps going," he said.

He has however finally decided he would have to stop somewhere. Now the draft is to be completed by December. Dev Anand plans to go to London to look for an international publisher.

"I want my book to make an international splash," he said.

However, he has no plans to quit direction. His next film, tentatively titled "Beauty Queen", will be an incisive look at the phenomenon of beauty pageants.

"Women are exploited by men all over the world," Dev Anand said, explaining the theme of his planned venture.

"You have hundreds of young women coming with stars in their eyes but what happens to those who have no connections, no contacts? Where do they end up? It is a hard look at the dark reality behind all that glitter and, at the same time, it is also a tribute to the women of the world."