In the iconic film Love Story, Vijayta Pandit and Kumar Gaurav portrayed star-crossed lovers, but their on-screen chemistry soon mirrored reality. Vijayta recently revealed that their bond deepened during the shoot, eventually blossoming into a real-life romance. After the film's massive success, she even turned down multiple film offers to focus on her personal life with Kumar Gaurav. However, their love story did not have a fairytale ending.
The On-Set Romance
In a past interview with Lehren Retro, Vijayta revisited her much-talked-about relationship with Kumar Gaurav. She explained how their off-screen romance flourished despite growing family opposition. "We were shooting together... and we fell in love. Rajendra Kumar could sense it and he was very against it," she said. His disapproval was direct and often intimidating. "He would get very angry... he would tell him, 'If you fall in love at this stage, what will happen to your career? I will find a well-established girl for you.' I would hear all this and get very scared," she admitted.
Despite the pressure, their relationship continued. "We did fall in love... the heart doesn't listen. It was my first love," Vijayta said, emphasizing her deep emotional involvement.
The Engagement Shock
Midway through their relationship, Kumar Gaurav got engaged to Reema Kapoor, daughter of Raj Kapoor. Vijayta revealed that she attended the engagement ceremony. "I went happily... but when I saw that big diamond ring, I said it's beautiful, and he got angry—'If you like it, throw it!'" she recalled. She added that even those around them could sense the depth of their bond. "Reena Roy told my sister that there is a lot of love between them," she said.
Promises Amidst Engagement
Even after the engagement, Kumar Gaurav allegedly continued to meet Vijayta. "My mother asked him, 'You're engaged, why do you come here?' and he said, 'Yes, I'm engaged, but I will marry Vijayta,'" she revealed. She further claimed he even swore on her mother's prayer beads. "If I marry, I will marry Vijayta, otherwise I won't marry at all... this is a fact," she said.
Family Tensions and Career Impact
However, things did not work out. Vijayta maintained she had no role in his broken engagement. Kumar Gaurav later married Namrata Dutt. His father, Rajendra Kumar, who shared a close bond with Sunil Dutt and Nargis after working together in Mother India, was keen that his son marry into a reputed film family. Vijayta also alleged that the relationship impacted her career. "Rajendra Kumar got me removed from films... producers would say our pair was a hit, but he would insist that films run because of the hero," she claimed.
Life After Love Story
While the duo never recreated the success of Love Story together, Vijayta moved on and later married music composer Aadesh Shrivastava. She also belongs to a celebrated musical family—being the sister of composer duo Jatin-Lalit, known for iconic albums like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander.
A Lasting Longing
Looking back, Vijayta believes audiences wanted to see them reunite on screen. "If we had continued working together... people wanted to see us again. That longing remained," she said, calling the chapter a "bygone"—but one that continues to resonate with fans.
