Vijayta Pandit reveals her relationship with Love Story co-star Kumar Gaurav cost her, her career: ‘Rajendra Kumar got me removed from films….’

Vijayta Pandit charmed the nation with her effervescent performance and her impeccable chemistry with hero Kumar Gaurav in the 1981 superhit blockbuster Love Story. Off-screen, the pair fell in love, but their relationship did not have a blissful ending.

In a chat with Lehren Retro, the actress reminisced about her ill-fated love story and how it eventually impacted her career.

She spoke about how her connection with co-star Kumar Gaurav developed rapidly while they were working together, becoming noticeable to those around them almost immediately.


According to Vijayta, their growing closeness did not go unnoticed, especially by Kumar Gaurav’s father, Rajendra Kumar, who strongly disapproved of the relationship. She described his reactions as stern and, at times, overwhelming. His concerns were largely centered on the potential consequences such an emotional involvement could have on his son’s rising career. Vijayta recalled feeling uneasy and intimidated as she overheard repeated warnings directed at Kumar Gaurav, urging him to focus on his professional future instead of getting entangled in a relationship at such a crucial stage. Despite this resistance, their bond deepened, driven by strong emotions that neither of them could easily suppress. For Vijayta, it was her first experience of love, making it all the more intense and unforgettable.

While their film Love Story went on to achieve tremendous success and became a major hit, their personal lives took a complicated turn. During this period, Kumar Gaurav became engaged to Reema Kapoor, the daughter of the legendary Raj Kapoor. Vijayta shared that she attended the engagement ceremony with a positive outlook, but the experience left her shaken. She vividly remembered noticing the large diamond ring presented during the ceremony, which sparked an emotional reaction from Kumar Gaurav that revealed underlying tension. According to her, even people in their social circle, including actress Reena Roy, were aware of the depth of their relationship and acknowledged the strong feelings between them.

Despite his engagement, Vijayta claimed that Kumar Gaurav continued to remain in close contact with her. She recounted instances where he visited her home, leading her family to question his intentions given his formal commitment elsewhere. According to her, he maintained that his true intention was to marry her, even making solemn assurances to reinforce his words. These declarations, she suggested, reflected the seriousness with which he viewed their relationship, despite the complicated circumstances surrounding them.

However, the relationship eventually did not reach its intended conclusion. Vijayta clarified that she was not responsible for the breakdown of his engagement. In time, Kumar Gaurav moved on and married Namrata Dutt. She also highlighted the role of family expectations in shaping these outcomes. Rajendra Kumar, who shared a close association with Sunil Dutt and Nargis after their collaboration in Mother India, reportedly preferred that his son marry within a well-established film family, which influenced his stance.

Vijayta further revealed that the fallout from this relationship had a negative impact on her career. She alleged that Rajendra Kumar used his influence to limit her opportunities in the industry, even when filmmakers recognized the popularity of her on-screen pairing with Kumar Gaurav. According to her, there was a consistent effort to credit a film’s success primarily to the male lead, sidelining her contribution.

Following this phase, Vijayta gradually rebuilt her life. She later married music composer Aadesh Shrivastava and continued to remain connected to a prominent musical lineage. She is also the sister of the celebrated composer duo Jatin–Lalit, known for creating memorable soundtracks for films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander.