Meet the actress who once outshone Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit but saw her career collapse after a relationship with a star kid

Vijayta Pandit became an instant star in 1981 with the hit film 'Love Story,' which was directed by Rahul Rawail. The film introduced Kumar Gaurav, the son of Rajendra Kumar, opposite her, and they became an instant hit as a brand-new pairing together in the flick. Vijayta's popularity surged thanks to the huge hit status of “Love Story,” which was also famous for its hit music as well. By the early to mid-80s, she was considered one of the great new stars of Hindi cinema. Her newfound star power had her being mentioned in the same breath as all the other new rising stars of that period.

In her peak years, Vijayta was often compared to industry favorites, such as Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit. Appealing, charming, and possessing great screen presence and acting abilities, Vijayta was undoubtedly one of the brightest actresses of her generation. She had lead role after lead role while cultivating a huge fan following, with insiders proclaiming there were endless amounts of star power. Yet, just as this journey was blossoming into a bothered career: fashion, artistry, social development, and circumstance of circumstance.

While filming ‘Love Story,’ Vijayta and Kumar Gaurav fell deeply in love. But Rajendra Kumar strongly disapproved of their relationship, fearing it would distract his son from his career. In an interview with Lehren Retro, Vijayta revealed, “He used to scold Bunty and tell him to focus on work… You should not fall in love with this girl. You are my prince. I will get a princess for you.” She recalled feeling scared as tensions escalated. Despite Kumar Gaurav’s attempts to defend their relationship, pressure from his father created cracks that neither could mend.

Vijayta claimed that Rajendra Kumar actively obstructed her professional opportunities after their breakup. She shared that she had been approached for several films and even shot for ‘Rahee’ for ten days before being abruptly replaced. “Rajendra ji got me removed from all the films… He suggested Poonam Dhillon, Rati Agnihotri, and others. All those films were disasters. Rajendra Kumar ruined his son’s career and mine,” she alleged. Her career, once full of promise, slowly faded due to these setbacks.

Vijayta attempted a return to films with ‘Mohabbat’ in 1985, but the film and her subsequent projects failed at the box office. She married filmmaker Sameer Malkan in 1986, though the marriage did not last. In 1990, she stepped away from acting after marrying composer Aadesh Shrivastava, shifting her focus entirely to music. Vijayta later reinvented herself as a playback singer and even composed songs for films like ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar,’ ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa,’ ‘Dev,’ and ‘Chingaari,’ marking a new chapter in her artistic journey.