Vijayta Pandit Says Kumar Gaurav's Father Rajendra Kumar Didn't Approve Of Their Relationship: 'Bunty Would Tell His Father He Loves Me'

Yesteryear actor Vijayta Pandit, who made her debut in 1981 with 'Love Story' with Kumar Gaurav, recently opened up about her relationship with him.

Vijayta Pandit, who made her debut in 1981 with 'Love Story' with Kumar Gaurav, recently opened up about her relationship with him.

Source : Facebook/@TimelessIndianMelodies

Yesteryear actor Vijayta Pandit, who made her debut in 1981 with 'Love Story' with Kumar Gaurav, recently opened up about her relationship with him. The duo became overnight sensations with the success of their debut film, and rumours about their romance quickly followed. In an interview with Lehren Retro, Vijayta shared that Kumar Gaurav's father Rajendra Kumar didn't approve of their relationship and got him engaged to Raj Kapoor's daughter Reema Kapoor.

Vijayta Pandit and Kumar Gaurav's real-life love story

Speaking about her bond with Kumar Gaurav, Vijayta recalled how their on-screen chemistry mirrored their real-life connection. “Bunty (Kumar Gaurav) was the first boy I hugged during the shoot for 'Love Story'. Any love stories you look at, be it Rishi Kapoor-Dimple Kapadia's 'Bobby', Sunny Deol-Amrita Singh's 'Betaab', Sanjay Dutt and Tina Munim's 'Rocky', all these actors fell in love in real life. With such films you have to get into it, feel the romance... that was the first time a boy was touching me, so we both fell in love," she told Rajendra Kumar.

Vijayta described Kumar Gaurav as "very fond" of her and shared how he would follow her around and hold her hands, adding that he was a “charming boy.” However, their relationship wasn’t well-received by his father, veteran actor and producer Rajendra Kumar.

Rajendra Kumar didn't approve of Vijayata and Kumar Gaurav's relationship

“His father and the film's producer Rajendra Kumar was very angry over our relationship. He would drink alcohol and tell Bunty, he was his prince, and that he should marry a princess. He said he will find his son a girl who belongs to a reputed family. When I used to hear all this, I used to be so scared, but Bunty would retaliate and tell his father that he loves me; they used to drink together and argue; I used to try and get away from this situation," she added.

Kumar Gaurav got engaged to Raj Kapoor's daughter Reema Kapoor

To deter the growing romance, Rajendra Kumar and Raj Kapoor arranged for Kumar Gaurav to be engaged to Reema Jain, Kapoor’s daughter. Vijayta even attended the engagement ceremony. “I saw the huge diamond ring (Reema) she made him wear. I told him it looked so beautiful, and then he got angry said, 'If you don't like it, I will throw it away'... I ran away thinking he was going crazy,,” she recounted.

Despite being engaged, Kumar Gaurav continued to visit Vijayta’s home, which greatly upset her parents. “My father said he will ask Rajendra Kumar to ensure his son does not visit us now that he is engaged to be married. Bunty told my mother he would marry only me, despite his engagement. She told him this was impossible and then he swore that he would marry me," she added.

Kumar Gaurava and Reema Kapoor's engagement was called off

However, things took a sudden turn when she discovered Kumar Gaurav was having an affair with Namrata Dutt, the daughter of Nargis and Sunil Dutt. The engagement with Reema Jain was soon called off, but Vijayta said that she had no involvement in the breakup. “I had absolutely nothing to do with that,” she affirmed.

Eventually, Vijayta moved on and married the late music composer Aadesh Shrivastava in 1990, and they had two children together. Meanwhile, Kumar Gaurav married Namrata Dutt in 1984, and the couple has two children. Reema Jain, on the other hand, has been married to businessman Manoj Jain, and they are the parents of actors Aadar and Armaan Jain.