Oct 05, 2024
Oct 05, 2024
Her first movie was a super-hit but she did not capitalise on it. She was madly in love with Kumar Gaurav, the hero of her first movie - Love Story that released in 1981. Danny, Rajendra Kumar and Vidya Sinha played supporting roles in the movie that proved to be a blockbuster.
Earlier, Vijayeta, the youngest of the Pandit siblings had sung for the 1978 release - Dil Se Mile Dil. This movie starred Bhisham Kohli, Dev anand's nephew and Shyamalee who quit movies later on to marry one of Mehmood's children. Shyamalee acted as the vamp in "Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaye" with Prem Kishan, Bina Rai-Premnath's eldest son. Shyamalee's last release was " Door Vadiyon Mein Kahi" where costarred with Kishore Kumar and Bindu. This movie was released in 1984 and sadly went unnoticed.
Vijayeta sang the song for two Anglo Indian girls who were actually Bhisham's neighbours in Juhu. The song was - "Hathon Mein Mere Bhi Mehandi Lagao". Later on she sang the Pehla Nasha number from Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander. As a singer, her career never took off despite having a music director duo as her brothers [Jatin-Lalit] and Adesh Srivastava, a music director whom she married after divorcing Sameer Malkan.
Many of the songs crooned by Vijayata were replaced by political machinations of singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Alka Yagnik. So, abundance of a singing talent ended up in the scrap-bin. Cannot people like Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rohit Shetty, A R Rahman, Karan Johar, Ekta Kapoor give opportunities for singers like Vijayata? I wish that they would!
While her actress sister Sulakshana never married as she was reportedly keen to marry Sanjeev Kumar, by the end of 1981, Sulakshana's career had ended. It was a short career of just 7 years for Sulakshana who debuted in the 1974 releases Raja and Uljhan. Madadgar was her last release in 1983 that starred Jeetender with whom she shared a warm relationship.
Kumar Gaurav allegedly promised to marry Vijayata and she spurned all offers. But the actor's father was against this love story. Kumar Gaurav's career never took off and Vijayata sat at home for 4 years. She came back with a vengeance with movies like - Mohabbat and Misal (both 1985 releases). By this time, Gaurav had got married to Namrata Dutt, Sunil Dutt's daughter. To prove a point, Vijayta even acted in a sleazy thriller called "Jigar" with Kamal Hasan. The movie was directed by I V Sasi, a film maker from Kerala who was known for making movies on bold themes. Vijayata went bold in front of the camera but the film did not attract much attention. By the time, Vijayata acted in movies like Jeete Hai Shan Se and Zalzala, it was clear that there was no space for her amidst a bevy of beauties like Madhuri, Sridevi and Jayaprada. Unfortunately, neither acting nor singing helped Vijayata. After the late 80's, Vijayata quietly slipped away from name and fame.
During the shooting of Car Thief, she fell in love with director Sameer Malkan and eloped with him. But the marriage did not last. After a few years of living in anonymity, she married music director Adesh and since then she lives in Mumbai with her family.
Tragic story of an actress-singer who never got her due!
18-Dec-2014
More by : Valliyoor Satya