Vijayta Pandit

Vijayta comes from a musical family originating in Pili Mandori Village in Hissar district of Haryana state. Pandit Jasraj is her uncle. Her elder sister was Sulakshana Pandit, and like her, is an actress and playback singer. Her brothers are music directors Jatin Pandit and Lalit Pandit, better known as Jatin–Lalit.^[2]

Rajendra Kumar cast her alongside his son Kumar Gaurav in Love Story (1981), which became a "blockbuster" at the box office.^[3] She and Gaurav played star-crossed lovers, and they also developed a relationship off-screen. Though the film became a hit, her career did not take off for various reasons. Their relationship too ended due to family tensions.^[4] She blamed Rajendra Kumar for the gap in her film career.^[5]

Vijayta came back to movies a few years later with Mohabbat (1985) which turned out to be a decent hit. She was briefly married to Sameer Malkan who had directed her in Car Thief (1986).^[6] Films where Vijayta played the lead include Jeete Hain Shaan Se (1986), Deewana Tere Naam Ka (1987), Zalzala (1988), Pyar Ka Toofan (1990). She also starred in the blockbuster Bengali film Amar Sangi . (1987) directed by Sujit Guha along with Prasenjit. She has also sung a song for the Bengali movie Biyer Phool.^[7]

After marrying composer Aadesh Shrivastava she quit acting and concentrated on playback singing. She has sung for films such as Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993), Saazish (1998), Dev (2004) and Chingaari (2006).^[8]

Aadesh Shrivastava produced a pop album titled Propose – Pyaar ka Izhaar which marked Vijayta's debut as a pop singer. Madhuri Dixit launched the album for the press in February 2007.