The Government of India honored him with Padma Bhushan, Indian third highest civilian honour in 2001 and with Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2002.
He had his first hit in Ziddi (1948) and gained widespread recognition with the superhit Baazi (1951), which is regarded as the forerunner of the spate of "Bombay Noir" films that followed in Bollywood in the 1950s.
Anand acquired a romantic image with films such as Manzil (1960), Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961), Hum Dono (1961), Asli-Naqli (1962) and Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963).
He reunited with Vijay Anand for the movie Jewel Thief (1967), based on the thriller genre, it went on to become a hit at the box office.
Throughout the 70s and 80s, he starred in a number of highly successful films such as Johny Mera Naam (1970), which was highest grosser of the year, Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), Banarasi Babu (1973), Heera Panna (1973), Amir Garib (1974), Warrant (1975), Des Pardes (1978), Lootmaar (1980), Hum Naujawan (1985) and Lashkar (1989).