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Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Did you know Sulakshana Pandit was madly in love with Sanjeev Kumar? He rejected her marriage proposal, she remained unmarried even after his death
In Bollywood's history, Sulakshana Pandit harbored an unrequited love for Sanjeev Kumar, proposing marriage only to be turned down. Sanjeev's affections lay with Hema Malini, leaving him heartbroken and unmarried. Sulakshana, deeply affected by Sanjeev's untimely death, never married, forever cherishing their incomplete love story marked by devotion and solitude. In the golden era of Hindi cinema, the graceful Sulakshana Pandit and the exceptionally gifted Sanjeev Kumar shared more than just screen space. Behind the scenes was a one-sided love story that never bloomed into a lifelong bond. While Sanjeev Kumar became a legend for his unforgettable roles in classics like Sholay and Koshish, his personal life remained a tale of solitude. Sulakshana, deeply in love with the man who never returned her affection, chose to remain unmarried even after his death—turning their unfulfilled connection into one of Bollywood's most poignant real-life love stories. Sulakshana fell in love with Sanjeev Kumar during the filming of Uljhan in 1975. Deeply smitten, she reportedly proposed marriage to him. However, Sanjeev turned her down, as his heart was set on Hema Malini. When his love for Hema also remained unfulfilled, Sanjeev was left heartbroken and chose to remain unmarried for the rest of his life. In a past interview with a leading publication, Sulakshana opened up about the deep love she had for Sanjeev Kumar, describing it as the most intense love she had ever experienced. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo She reflected on the emotional bond they shared, noting how both of them were Cancerians—sensitive and deeply emotional by nature. The two had worked together in several films, including Waqt Ki Deewar, Chehre Pe Chehra, Uljhan, and Apnapan. Sulakshana believed that Sanjeev was a solitary soul and that marriage was simply not in his destiny. For her, no other relationship ever came close to what she felt for him. The actor battled a heart condition, but his persistent drinking habit only worsened his health. Despite medical warnings, he continued to drink heavily, with no close companion to monitor or support his recovery. On November 6, 1985, he suffered a fatal heart attack and passed away at the age of 47, leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable performances and a life marked by unfulfilled love. The news of Sanjeev's untimely death left the actress shattered. Deeply affected by the loss, she slipped into a severe depression and withdrew from the world. In a candid reflection, she revealed that the grief pushed her to the brink, and she even contemplated ending her life. It was only by divine will, she believed, that she survived. Though the pain never fully left her, she slowly began trying to rebuild her life and find the strength to face the world again. Sanjeev Kumar passed away as a bachelor, and Sulakshana Pandit, despite the years that followed, chose never to marry—her heart forever tied to the memory of him. Her unwavering love for Sanjeev led her to a life of solitude, and with his passing, their poignant love story remained incomplete—marked by longing, heartbreak, and quiet devotion.
Mint
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
THIS Bollywood outsider rose to fame, clashed with Rajesh Khanna, couldn't be with Shabana Azmi, later died alone
Bollywood has seen many actors; Among them, one has carved a niche for himself in Bollywood as a true outsider, defying the odds. Renowned for picking intense, offbeat roles over typical hero parts, this actor became one of the industry's most respected performers. But while his professional life soared, his personal journey was filled with heartbreak. Even his contemporaries, such as superstar Rajesh Khanna, didn't like him once. He once shared a deep bond with Shabana Azmi, but their relationship couldn't take things further. It is none other than actor Sanjeev Kumar. Born as Harihar Jethalal Jariwala, Sanjeev Kumar hailed from Surat. He bagged his first Bollywood film after a stint in a film school. Sanjeev Kumar started his career as a stage actor and later made his film debut with Hum Hindustani (1960), but it was Nishan (1965) that marked his true first lead role. He went on to deliver iconic performances in classics like Koshish, Aandhi, Sholay, Angoor, and Trishul, cementing his place in the industry. With success comes rivalry. Sanjeev clashed with Rajesh Khanna on several occasions. Their most infamous one is from the time when Rajesh slapped Sanjeev. It happened after dating rumours between Sanjeev Kumar and Rajesh Khanna's ex-girlfriend Anju Manhendru began doing the rounds in the industry. Anju had told Filmfare, "I never fell in love with Sanjeev Kumar. For me, he was just my mother's brother. There was an actress who had spread the rumour that I was dating Sanjeev Kumar. Even my ex-boyfriend (Rajesh Khanna) started believing the same." Years later, Rajesh and Sanjeev worked together in a film where the former had to slap the latter for a scene. It is believed that Rajesh did not hold it back while slapping him for real. Anju Mahendru reported that the infamous slap was out of sheer jealousy. Besides Anju, Sanjeev was also rumoured to be dating other actresses. Many remember Sanjeev Kumar as the actor who almost married Hema Malini. The two met on the sets of Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), and the actor fell in love with her. However, he had a condition-- that Hema would stop working after marriage. As a result, the two parted their ways. While many might remember their break-up, not many know that Sanjeev also shared a soft corner for actor Shabana Azmi. Turns out, Shabana, who liked him back, if reports are true. However, their relationship never moved forward, reportedly because of religious differences; his mother had an objection to having a Muslim daughter-in-law. In an interview, published in the December 1979 issue of Star & Style, Sanjeev Kumar revealed, 'I knew Shabana for a longer period than I had known any other girl in films. What she felt for me that time must've been mere puppy love, but it could have culminated in an alliance with me if my mother had not put her foot firmly down. My mother, tolerant in other respects, was adamant about her refusal to accept a Muslim bahu.' The actor suffered in his personal life. It is said that after a time, Sanjeev Kumar stopped trusting women, believing that they were only after his wealth. Sanjeev's makeup artiste, Sarosh Mody, revealed about his love life in an interaction in 1982, 'Every woman whom Sanjeev loved and yearned for, ditched him, leaving him high and dry. His ego is terribly hurt. Sanjeev is suffering from some kind of a complex. Luck has never been in his favour.' Turns out, in the end, the actor never had two things in life despite money: a home and a wife. Sanjeev drowned himself in alcohol until he suffered his first heart attack. Anju Mahendroo was quoted as saying in an interview, as reported by Indian Express, "He was charming, he had a wonderful smile. They tried wooing him by sending him dabbas. Some women were genuinely in love with him. But he believed they were after his wealth, which was so sad because at the end of the day he had neither a home nor a wife.' 'He had stopped going out to prevent himself from eating and drinking. He was aware that premature death ran in his family, what with an inherited congenital heart condition. He'd keep saying that in his family, the men didn't live beyond 50," she added. Tragically, Sanjeev passed at 47 in 1985, alone, due to another heart attack. Although he came close to buying a house, reports suggest he was never able to take ownership due to legal disputes with the seller's family.
Mint
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Sanjeev Kumar: Failed relationships, Hema Malini, and the lonely death of an actor's actor
For an entire generation, Sanjeev Kumar's acting was almost a mystery. While he may not have been as famous as some of his contemporaries like Rajesh Khanna and Dilip Kumar, Kumar had a loyal fan base for his penchant for playing older roles. Born on 9 July 1938 as Harihar Jethalal Jariwala, Kumar is remembered for his wide range of roles in movies like Sholay, Aandhi, Namkeen, Koshish and Anamika, among others. But as famous as he was, his life was not without controversy. His multiple relationships, love story with Hema Malini and struggle with alcohol near the end of life drew many eyeballs. According to a report by The Indian Express' Screen, Kumar never shied away from his popularity among women and numbered his girlfriends. 'Whenever he was seeing a girl, he'd share it with me. We had numbered his girlfriends 1, 2, 3… He'd call up and say, Number 3 called me up today and number 9 reacted in this manner,' the report quoted actor Anju Mahendroo saying in an earlier interview. Kumar had relationships with several big actresses, including Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi, Saira Banu, and Sulakshana Pandit. According to the book An Actor's Actor, Kumar wanted to marry Malini. However, this could not go forward due to cultural differences, as Kumar wanted Malini to stop working after the marriage. Some years later, in the late 1970s, Sulakshana Pandit proposed that Kumar marry her, but he refused. Pandit spent her life unmarried and heartbroken. Later, his marriage to Azmi also couldn't go through as his mother disapproved of an interfaith alliance. For Kumar, reports suggest, his failed love life remained one of the biggest pain points. Later in his life, he drowned himself in food and alcohol. He underwent a bypass surgery following a massive heart attack and tried to cut down on alcohol. However, another heart attack in 1985 took him away from his fans at the age of 47. Despite his short life, Kumar's contribution to Hindi cinema remains unparalleled and unmatched.
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Varun Badola answers if Ekta Kapoor ruined Indian television forever, says he spoke to her about it: ‘Sunne waalon mein se nahi hai'
Actor Varun Badola has been a celebrated name on Indian television for years, and has recently started branching out on streaming. In a recent interview, Varun spoke about the state of Indian television, and addressed Ekta Kapoor's influence on the medium over the years. He said that he spoke to Ekta once about the kind of shows that she was producing, but he realised that she isn't the kind of person who was willing to listen. Giving his views on Ekta, Varun said, 'More than spoiling the content on TV, Ekta Kapoor changed the face of Indian television, whether for the good or the bad. She went from strength to strength because the shows were earning money. In our industry, when corporates get involved, they don't care about the art form; they just want to earn money. Once Ekta had said in an interview that if you want to make a show your way, put your own money and make it, and she wasn't wrong. You have to deal with so much pressure otherwise.' Also Read: Varun Badola opens up about near-brush with financial ruin, says he had less than Rs 2 lakh in his bank account and 7 mouths to feed A post shared by Zindagi with Richa (@zindagiwithricha) 'I don't agree when people say that the B-tier and C-tier audience likes to watch regressive content. When good shows came on DD, people were still watching them. In the lockdown, the Mahabharat and Ramayana were watched so much. The regressive shows, I think, people see them as comedic. Ekta saw an opportunity and she seized it. Hum Paanch, Koshish… Ek Aasha were her shows, and I discussed with a lady at Star Plus who was against Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She was educated and wondered if it would be right to show the audience content like that. But they overruled her and started the show,' Varun added. A post shared by Zindagi with Richa (@zindagiwithricha) Further explaining if he thought these comments would upset Ekta, Varun Badola said, 'With Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, she said it was similar in the Kyunki space, even sets looked alike, but she was again overruled. And see how the shows became mammoths. Balika Vadhu was a much better show, it had different sensibilities. People do get influenced by TV, so the first thing we were always told was that the show has to be aspirational. In the very beginning, I had expressed my disapproval to Ekta with regards to content, but I had figured out then itself that she is not the kind of person who would listen. I was just an actor then. She seized an opportunity, and as a businesswoman, she had every right to do that. I don't agree with a single show of hers, I had even told her that I would go and do something else other than her show. After Koshish, I didn't do anything with Balaji until Apharan. She knows I am an actor with a very different mindset.'
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Subhash Ghai asked for interest, Sanjeev Kumar helped Shatrughan Sinha with Rs 10 lakh: ‘I don't like to beg anybody'
In the shiny world of Bollywood, it's easy to believe that all stars live a life of fame and fortune. But even the biggest names have gone through tough times. One such story comes from veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, who was once in such deep financial trouble that he considered selling his house. This lesser-known chapter of his life is revealed in his biography 'Anything But Khamosh', where he speaks openly about how things had become so bad that he was ready to give up his flat, until a kind friend from the same Bollywood stepped in to help him out. When everything was falling apart Back in the 1980s, Shatrughan Sinha was one of the most popular stars in the country. Yet, there was a time when he urgently needed Rs 10 lakh and had nowhere to turn. 'I am very self-respecting and don't like to beg anybody for anything,' he said in the book. Thinking of selling his flat, he turned to his wife, Poonam Sinha, who strongly opposed the idea. Still in need of money, he decided to ask filmmaker Subhash Ghai for help. But instead of offering a helping hand, Ghai made it clear that any loan would come with strings attached. 'You have to pay me interest on that,' he told Shatrughan. This response left the actor disheartened, but thankfully, someone else was watching. A quiet but powerful gesture It was Sanjeev Kumar, the respected actor known for films like 'Khilona', 'Koshish', and 'Yehi Hai Zindagi' — who noticed something was wrong. He saw the stress on Shatrughan's face and asked what was troubling him. That moment became a turning point. As the 'Vishwanath' actor recalled, 'My friend, philosopher and guide called Sanjeev Kumar who is no more, saw me looking pensive and anxious and asked me what the matter was. When I told him about my problem, he merely asked me when I would be able to return it. I told him upfront, 'I don't know, whenever I'm in a position to do so'.' The very next morning, help arrived in an unexpected way. A 'Video Cassette' full of hope There was a knock on Sinha's door, and in walked Sanjeev's secretary, Jamnadasji. What he carried didn't look special, just something wrapped in a newspaper. 'Jamnadasji came with something wrapped in a newspaper and said, 'Bhai (Sir) has sent you a video cassette'. There was no video cassette inside but I found wrapped in it the amount I needed. Sanjeev Kumar had simply sent it across without even telling me about it.' The thoughtful gesture touched Shatrughan deeply. But what moved him even more was Sanjeev's response when asked about interest,'Where's the question of interest between friends?' A debt from the heart Shatrughan agreed to return the money 'when able', and Sanjeev never pressured him about it. Over time, he gave back small portions whenever asked. But even today, Shatrughan admits the full amount may not have been returned. 'Some amount is still pending. But once he passed away, to whom could I have given the money? His estate had been torn apart.' These words show not only his honesty but also the deep regret of not being able to fully repay a friend who helped him without question. Who was Sanjeev Kumar? Sanjeev Kumar, who made his lead debut in 1965 with 'Nishan', had a successful career spanning nearly 25 years. His memorable performances in films like 'Dastak', 'Trishna', 'Qatl' and 'Naya Din Nai Raat' earned him both awards and admiration. He won two National Film Awards for Best Actor, for 'Dastak' in 1970 and 'Koshish' in 1972. He passed away at just 47 in 1985, following a massive heart attack. But his warmth, kindness, and friendship continue to live on in stories like this one. EXCLUSIVE | Rajkummar Rao & Wamiqa Gabbi On Bhool Chuk Maaf, Stree 2 Pressure & Gen Z Love Woes
