In Bollywood, it is common for star parents to use their influence to ensure the success of their children’s careers. One such case involves veteran actor Rajendra Kumar and his son Kumar Gaurav. Despite delivering several hits himself, Rajendra Kumar reportedly struggled to establish his son’s acting career, with many attributing this to personal choices and interference, particularly in Kumar Gaurav’s romantic relationship with actress Vijayta Pandit.
Kumar Gaurav made his Bollywood debut in Love Story (1981), alongside Vijayta Pandit. Their on-screen chemistry was so strong that it blossomed into a real-life romance. However, Rajendra Kumar, unhappy with their relationship, reportedly disapproved of Vijayta as a match for his son. As a result, he allegedly intervened in Kumar Gaurav’s career, preventing him from working with Vijayta in future projects.
In an interview, Vijayta Pandit shared how her relationship with Kumar Gaurav impacted both their careers. She revealed that while they had fallen in love during the filming of Love Story, Rajendra Kumar played a key role in ensuring that she was removed from upcoming films. According to Vijayta, directors and producers wanted to cast her and Kumar Gaurav as a pair due to their popularity, but Rajendra Kumar intervened. “Rajendra ji got me removed from all the films,” she said, adding that he suggested other actresses like Poonam Dhillon, Padmini Kolhapure, and Rati Agnihotri instead, stating, “Heroine se picture nahi banti hai (a film doesn’t become a hit because of a heroine).”
Despite Rajendra Kumar’s attempts to pair Kumar Gaurav with other leading actresses, none of his subsequent films matched the success of Love Story. He even cast Madhuri Dixit, one of the biggest stars of the time, in Phool (1993), a film that also starred Kumar Gaurav. Despite the significant investment, the film failed at the box office, marking another setback in Kumar Gaurav’s career.
Vijayta Pandit’s career also suffered due to this fallout. She was initially set to star in several films, including Romance and Rahi, but was replaced after Rajendra Kumar’s intervention. She later moved on from the film industry and married singer Aadesh Shrivastava in 1990. Tragically, Aadesh passed away in 2015, leaving behind Vijayta and their two children.
The personal dynamics between Rajendra Kumar, his son Kumar Gaurav, and Vijayta Pandit not only shaped their relationships but also significantly impacted their careers. While Kumar Gaurav’s career failed to reach the heights his father envisioned, Vijayta Pandit faced an abrupt halt in her film journey, ultimately altering the trajectory of both their professional lives.
