In Love Story, Vijayta Pandit and Kumar Gaurav played star-crossed lovers—and life imitated art. Vijayta shared that while shooting, their bond grew stronger and soon turned into a relationship. After the film’s massive success, she even turned down multiple film offers, choosing instead to focus on her personal life with Kumar Gaurav. However, their love story didn’t have a fairytale ending.In her past interview with Lehren Retro, Vijayta revisited her much-talked-about relationship with Kumar Gaurav during the making of Love Story, revealing how their off-screen romance blossomed even as family opposition mounted.
‘We fell in love… and everyone could see it’
Speaking about their time on set, Vijayta said their bond became evident quite quickly.“We were shooting together… and we fell in love. Rajendra Kumar could sense it and he was very against it,” she said.She recalled how 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, emphasising how deeply she was involved emotionally.While the film went on to become a blockbuster, their personal lives grew complicated.
Engagement shock: ‘Such a big diamond ring…’
Midway, Kumar Gaurav got engaged to Reema Kapoor, daughter of Raj Kapoor.Vijayta revealed she attended the engagement.“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 relationship.“Reena Roy told my sister that there is a lot of love between them,” she said.
‘I’m engaged… but I will marry Vijayta’
Even after the engagement, Kumar Gaurav allegedly continued to meet her.“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 fallout
However, things didn’t 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.
‘People wanted to see us together again’
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.
