Yesteryear actress Vijayta Pandit grabbed many eyeballs last week when she spoke about producer Rajendra Kumar sabotaging her career. Vijayta, who starred in the 1981 film Love Story alongside Kumar Gaurav, fell in love with her co-star while the movie was halfway completed. But falling in love proved to be the biggest mistake of her life. In an exclusive interview, Vijayta spoke about her affair and how her financial status was the reason why Kumar’s family had an issue with their relationship. Vijayta. who later married late singer Aadesh Shrivastava, also mentioned how Kumar was very possessive about her and had once injured his hand out of jealousy.
Talking about how after Love Story, she put a flourishing career on the back burner, Vijayta said, “I wanted to work. I was getting offers for a lot of films. But I was thinking of getting married. Bunty (Kumar Gaurav) used to ask me why I wanted to work. He said, ‘Tum mere ghar ki aur meri heroine bano, you don’t have to work.’ He said that we were getting married and he was going to work, so I didn’t need to. He knew that his father was getting me removed from films.”
When she was asked if back in the 80s, co-stars falling in love was something unheard of, she said it was a common practice, especially amongst those who worked in romantic films. Vijayta said that actors used to hide their affairs for their careers back then. “All actors who worked in love stories would fall in love,” she said.
While her reel-life Love Story became a cult hit, her real-life Love Story only broke her heart. Sharing how she was the only one who suffered for falling in love with Kumar Gaurav, Vijayta Pandit shared, “I don’t think he suffered. We both were in love and his family was against it. They wanted to move Bunty’s focus from me. One of his sisters would study with Namrata Dutt (Sanjay Dutt’s sister). She used to bring Namrata home and they started pushing them to know each other. They thought she was better than Vijayta. The family pressurized him so much that eventually Namrata and Bunty came close. They thought she was Sunil Dutt’s daughter and was wealthy, so she was a better option for Kumar Gaurav.”
Vijayta added, “Bunty was very faithful to me. He loved me immensely. No one would have ever thought that he would ditch me. Once I had thrown a birthday party at a shack close to my house, and Bunty had also come. I was just talking to a school friend and also danced with him. That time, Bunty injured his hand by punching a glass at the shack. My brothers got scared, and he said, ‘I can’t see this, why was she dancing with him?’ He was so possessive. Such incidents made me believe more in his love for me. My family was happy that we wanted to get married. He used to come home.”
Stating that money and financial status were what killed their story, Vijayta said, “His family thought I was not as rich as they were. Money was the main reason why they were against the relationship. They wanted him to get married to a wealthy girl. Rajendra Kumar was a very money-minded man. He wanted his son to marry a rich girl. He thought we were not up to that level of being rich. But we were well-to-do, not as rich as him.”
Though Vijayta Pandit worked in some films after Kumar Gaurav got married, she said, “My heart was so broken that I didn’t want to work.” Now, she wants to get back to acting and is willing to play the hero’s mother too if the role is impactful. On the work front, Vijayta is soon going to release a music album and is also doing live performances. She recently performed at the Indian Bangla Club’s Durga Puja Pandal in Mumbai. Other than this, the actress-singer also wants to see her son Avitesh on the big screen soon.
Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector.
Experience & Career
Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media:
The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments.
Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include:
Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles.
OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres.
Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends.
Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community.
Authoritativeness & Trust
With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More