Kumar Gaurav was dubbed the biggest star since Rajesh Khanna after the success of his debut film, “Love Story.” Sadly, he cannot continue his success but still appears in iconic films like “Janam,” “Naam,” and “Kaante.”
Early Life and Career
Kumar Gaurav was born Manoj Tuli on July 11, 1956, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He is the son of the legendary actor Rajendra Kumar and his wife, Shukla Kumar. Shukla was the sister of famous producers Ramesh and Shyam Behl. He studied at the Bishop Cotton School in Shimla.
Gaurav’s entry into the film industry was marked by the blockbuster hit “Love Story,” opposite Vijayta Pandit, in 1981. His charming on-screen presence and the youthful romance of the film captured the hearts of many, making him an overnight sensation. Directed by Rahul Rawail and produced by Rajendra Kumar, Love Story released on April 17, 1981. Kumar Gaurav plays Bunty, a wealthy young man who falls for Pinky (Vijayta Pandit), the daughter of his father’s college girlfriend. The plot follows their romance, opposition from Pinky’s father, and happy ending. Rajendra Kumar appears as Bunty’s father, while Pinky’s parents were played by Danny and Vidya Sinha. R.D. Burman’s songs “Yaad Aa Rahi Hai,” and “Dekho Maine Dekha Hai Yeh Ek Sapna” were the rage of 80s. The film was among the year’s top earners, and earned Gaurav a Filmfare Best Debut Award.
Namit Das On Stage
Despite the initial success, the journey ahead was not smooth for Gaurav. His next film was “Teri Kasam (1982),” opposite Poonam Dhillon. In the film directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar, Kumar Gaurav portrays Vijay, a singer in a complicated relationship with Poonam Dhillon. The story unfolds with Vijay’s heartbreak, his rise as a star, and eventual reconciliation. R.D. Burman’s soundtrack, “Yeh Zameen Gaa Rahi Hai,” was the highlight of the film.
His next film was one of the most anticipated films of that year, “Star (1982),” as it was produced by musician Biddu and also featured iconic sound tracks by teen singers Nazia Hassan and Zoheb Hassan. Despite the success of its music, the film bombed at the box office.
Namit Das On Screen
In the next several years, all of his films, like Lovers (1983), Romance (1983), Hum Hain Lajawab (1984), All-Rounder (1984), Divorce (1984), Ek Se Bhale Do (1985), Janam (1985), and Begaana (1984), failed to make any impact.
Mahesh Bhatt cast him in his TV film Janam (1985), where his understated performance was widely praised, and he even got a nomination for the Filmfare Best Actor Award.
In 1986, he starred in Mahesh Bhatt’s “Naam,” which was dubbed the relaunch vehicle of Kumar Gaurav, but curiously, instead of him, the film revived the career of Sanjay Dutt, who has a relatively smaller role in the film.
Namit Das On TV and OTT
The late 1980s saw a further decline in his career, with several films failing to make a mark at the box office. It was a challenging phase for the actor, who had stepped into the industry with such promise and fanfare. However, Gaurav’s passion for acting never waned, and he continued to explore opportunities to showcase his talent. Some of his films from that period include Dil Tujhko Diya (1987), Albela (1987), Aaj (1987), Goonj (1989), Jurrat (1989), Hai Meri Jaan (1991), Pratigyabadh (1991), and Indrajeet (1991), among others.
In 1993, he again tried to revive his career and starred in “Phool” with Madhuri Dixit in the hopes that her popularity would help in his film, but the film was not successful. Kumar Gaurav took a hiatus from film after Phool and started focusing on his businesses, which include a production house, a construction company, and a tourism and travel company.
Kumar Guarav has only starred in a handful movies since then, most notably Mazhar Khan’s delayed film Gang (2000) and Sanjay Gupta’s crime thriller “Kaante (2002).”
Personal Life
In 1984, Gaurav married Namrata Dutt, daughter of the late actor Sunil Dutt and sister of Sanjay Dutt. The couple has two daughters, Saachi and Siya.
Kumar Gaurav on IMDB
