MUMBAI: The late Dev Anand, the creator of a wide array of 35 films, has been conferred with an unprecedented honour by the British Actors Union, Equity.

In a gesture of sympathy and international solidarity, the British trade union for actors and entertainers has expressed the union`s sadness at the passing away of a non-union member: Dev Anand.

The statement was presented in the form of a letter of condolence signed by the President of Equity Christine Payne, its General Secretary Malcolm Sinclair, and the Chairman of the Minority Ethnic Members Committee Shiv Pande, a spokesperson of the Navketan Trust has bared.

"This letter is of tremendous significance as it demonstrates the international standing of the late Bollywood movie icon and pays tribute to Dev Anand`s lifelong contributions to the Indian film industry. This is the first time that an actor with no formal associations with Equity has been honoured in this way," the spokesman said.

Dev Anand breathed his last at a London hotel on December 3 at the ripe age of 88. He was involved in landmark films like Guide, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Johnny Mera Naam and Jewel Thief.