For the millennials he’s the eternally popular Thakur from the blockbuster Sholay(1975) but true fans of SANJEEV Kumar remember him for far more superior performances and movies. Someone who died young, broke stereotypes in Bollywood, played a variety of complex roles and never got embroiled in a web of “image” he got rewarded for what he deserved, neither underrated nor overrated. In a twenty five year long acting career he reached the zenith of superlative acting but was he lucky in love? No.
He was linked to many starlets thanks to gossip columnists and glossy magazines but there are three costars who are supposed to be his true loves at different phases of his life. Revisiting Sanjeev’s incomplete love stories.
SANJEEV with Nutan in Devi(1970)
Beaming with super talent and progressing towards the top league the young and upcoming Sanjeev fell hopelessly in love with the screen goddess Nutan while shooting a movie called Devi(1970) phew !! Nutan was much married and had a nine year old son. The much guarded love affair was unexpectedly disclosed by some witnesses and was all over the gossip magazines. Nutan’s disciplinarian husband Rajnish Bahl who was allegedly controlling her life was enraged and is said to have given her an ultimatum to end the clandestine affair. While Sanjeev was even ready to legally adopt Nutan’s son, one fine day on the sets she delivered a thundering slap on an unsuspecting Sanjeev’s face. This was in full attendance of the entire unit and cast and crew.
The industry took sides, while some who worshipped Nutan’s Devi like image blamed Sanjeev for playing a reckless lover while there were others who supported Sanjeev claiming it wasn’t an one sided affair but the Devi had consented to the relationship. Sadly for Sanjeev the affair ended on a terribly bitter note.
Sanjeev with his most loved dream girl Hema
If you think Nutan’s hardening slap was bad what followed was worse. Sanjeev and Hema Malini met while shooting Seeta Aur Geeta(1972) and Cupid struck. Every unit member (including a future husband) was witness to the star crossed lovers. Stardust, Filmfare and other magazines featured cover stories about the romantic liaison. While Dreamgirl Hema was being pursued by at-least a fifty eligible men her eyes were fixated on the talented Gujarati lad Sanjeev. Unfortunately Hema’s overpowering Amma Jaya Chakravarti played villain and abruptly ended the blossoming relationship. It is said she also put a clause that Sanjeev and Hema wouldn’t have any combination scenes in Sholay(1975) and Trishul (1978), did we see Thakur and Basanti sharing screen space ?
It is alleged Hema turned stone hearted and starting ignoring Sanjeev which further disoriented him and he hit the bottle. This was one affair that Sanjeev was very serious about and wanted to lead to the alter. But alas! For a man who was jinxed in romance he had to face yet another love failure.
Nipped in the bud? With Nita Mehta
Though not much discussed about, Sanjeev did consider marrying a small time actor Nita Mehta, he even recommended her left right and centre for movies that featured him like Zindagi(1977), Jani Dushman(1979), Paththar Se Takkar(1980) and Hero(1983), a fellow Gujarati even Sanjeev’s mother approved of the match. But Nita was ambitious and wanted to focus on her blooming Bollywood career, while SANJEEV always wanted a home maker! Thereby ending a relationship that was nipped in its bud.
Many industry insiders have claimed that Sanjeev died lonely and sad. He was only 47 when he passed away tragically after a massive heart attack in 1985, someone who achieved unimaginably astronomical amount of success and popularity professionally, his love life was tragic. He remained a bachelor till his death, though he loved and lost, not once but thrice or maybe more that we aren’t aware of.
All images courtesy: Yahoo Images
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