But films with Dev Anand as the lead hero in "Hum Naujawan" (1985) and "Lashkar" (1989) continued to be box office successes and were appreciated by critics. "Awwal Number" (1990), where Dev Anand co-starred with Aditya Pancholi and Aamir Khan became an average grosser in the year 1990. Aamir said in an interview that "Awwal Number" is the only film he signed without reading the script because it was being directed by his senior Dev Anand. Aamir quoted: "Dev saab was an icon for many generations and entertained us throughout his life". He was already 60 years old in 1983 when he acted opposite Christine O'Neil and alongside Rati Agnihotri and Padmini Kolhapure in "Swami Dada". In 1989, his directorial venture "Sachche ka Bolbala" was released. Though critically acclaimed, it was a commercial failure. His performance as Professor Anand in the 1989 film "Lashkar (film)" was widely appreciated and was a major success at the box office. "Lashkar" was his last hit film in the lead role in 1989, with him neither being producer nor director of the film.