Dev was born in Punjab, India, in the district of Jallandher. His birth name was Dev Raj the Son of Sardar Sohan Singh Mall.. Dev attended primary school in the village of Subhana near Jallandhar Cant and in the village of Mitha Pur next to the model town Jallandhar up to the 4th class.  Later, he then went to High School in the village of Mitha Pur. Dev also attended Khalsa high School Jallandhar for a short time. Whilst Dev was studying in the 10th class he left the Punjab to join his father in the UK in 1964.

From Dev Raj to Dev Diwana
The name Diwana was given to him by one of the Punjab’s MLA ( Member of Local assembly - Dev does not remember the MLA’s name now ) The MLA was visiting the UK and held a public meeting where Dev was singing his own written  Punjabi song at that gathering, The MLA was so convinced and proud of Dev, that he decided to reward Dev with the title name of Diwana. Dev was just  16 years old at that time and Dev did not know the meaning of the name `Diwana`. until one of his father’s friends Bhushan Dutt explained to him that Diwana meant Delirious. Then he explained in simple English that Diwana meant ` mad.` in Punjabi is also  called PAGAL. Dev thought  oops, what kind of title is this, then Dev said Yes, I am mad, I am pagal, I am singing all the time, I am dancing even when I should walk straight and  normal. The name Diwana  is identified itself as some kind of creator, writer etc.   That is how Dev added Diwana to his name.

Dev’s interest in creative expression began to materialise in 1964 as a stage dancer (in a Bhangra group)  in the UK city of Leicester in the Midlands. which then progressed into becoming a solo Bollywood film dancer and  writing plays. As a director and actor Dev has written about 20 stage plays in Hindi and Punjabi languages including  “Happy Birthday” in Hindi, “Preeto de Majburi”  “Photographer Chunni Lal” in Punjabi and many more. Most of the plays were performed all over the UK between 1965 to 1973 under the banner of Azaad Hind Drama Club, The club is formed by Dev Diwana

In 1973, Dev Diwana formed a musical band called the Anokha Group, which was the first Asian band in the East Midlands to cut into vinyl, songs written and several being sung by Dev Diwana.  Dev has written over 250 songs and many have been  recorded in different male and female voices including Bollywood playback singers Asha Bhosle, Mahinder Kapoor, Suresh Wadeker, Dilraj Kaur, Sukhwinder Singh, Sapna Mukerji, Savita Sathi, Vinod Rathored, Kalpna, Pretee Bhalla. And singers from UK Pala Birmingham, Parminder Singh, Ayoub Vohra, Freeda Ali, Gopa Bosse, Neelam, R.S.Shende,  Iqbal , T.L.Azad, Fatima.  Nicholson Aftab, Dev Heer and  C.L.Charli .

In 1974 Dev finished a course at the ESBEE Cinesound Centre in London where he achieved a London School of Acting Diploma in Drama and film Acting. Four years later, he started a Film Acting group called Brothers Film Productions and taught young people drama and film acting groups bringing the numbers up to nearly sixty members.

By 1979 Dev had written the story and the lyrics for a film named Two travellers on One Path. ( Ek Raasta Do Rahee ) Cast Dev Diwana with Rashida Anwar. Song sung by Ayub Vohra and Gopa Bosse  Music by Iqbal and Nicholson. The story being based on life as a student, much taken from Dev’s own experiences as a student.

In 1985 Dev Diwana was the first to receive a Film and Video Production Grant from the East Midlands Arts, for the project “Misfortune” 

In 1986 Dev completed a story and the songs for the film titled Sheran De Putt Sher ( Punjabi ), Dev went to Bombay to produce with Mohan Sandhu, Baggi Sandhu and Makhan Sahota.  Dev Diwana starred with Dara Singh, Daljit Kaur, Satish Kaul, Mehar Mittal , Nirmal Rishi and Many top actors of the Punjabi film industry at that time

In 1988 Dev gained a diploma in Television production from Charnwood Art in Loughborough Leicestershire University UK

By 1990 Dev had written another film story and the songs for the film titled Dheyan Dhan Begaana., the  film was picturised  in the UK . The story, songs, Screenplay, Editing and Directed by Dev Diwana. Produced by Mohan Sandhu Dheyan Dhan Begaana was the first Punjabi film produced in the UK and has been released in every corner of the world by GVI. starred Dev Diwana with Daljit Kaur,  Mehar Mittal, Nirmal Risshi and Many more from the UK . Dev won best screenplay writer for the film from AFA in 1994 

1994 Dev Joined Sunrise Radio Midlands. as a Radio presenter and the commercial Manager, Dev was hosting a musical show called Tranum Sursangham with enchanting  oldie –Goldie Bollywood music Dev’s favourite singers are Mohd Rafi, Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar. Music directors O.P.Nayerr, Nushad Ali, Shanker Jaykishan, Chitra Gupta, Madan Mohan, Ravi and Kalyanji Anandji.

1996 Dev joint Diamond Cable later came as NTL. Dev was an Asian affairs producer, as well as  producing and hosting his very own Magazine show called Satrang  (meaning seven colours of the rainbow) Dev Diwana was leading a team of twenty technicians and hosts and the  show  won many awards.

In 2003 Dev wrote a  TV serial drama Samunderon Paar (meaning Overseas) Dev Diwana and his team was busy shooting the serial in Punjab and in the UK for over two years. Then Dev decided to edit the drama by himself, he managed to produce seventeen episodes.  By 2009 the Drama was telecasted on Sunrise television UK and Europe  and going to be telecast in many countries. Once again Dev Stars in his drama with  Daljit Kaur. Mehar Mittal, Nirmal Rishi, Yogesh Chhbarda, Ramna. Baljit Virk and many more from Punjab and UK. Drama produced by Mohan Sandhu and Dr Bal Sidhu

2010 Dev is busy working on Sajjan Pardesi Punjabi film.