Vijay Anand Wiki, Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Vijay Anand (1934-2004) was an Indian filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, editor, and actor who is known for his work in the Hindi Cinema for the films like Guide (1965), Teesri Manzil (1966), Jewel Thief (1967), and Johny Mera Naam (1970). From directing nerve-wracking thrillers, and romantic comedies to sentimental classics, and family dramas, Vijay, the younger brother of filmmaker Chetan Anand and matinée idol Dev Anand, made most of his films with the family’s production house ‘Navketan Films.’ His films were known for his distant vision and artistic approach. 

A great filmmaker, if ever there is one…will not know why he is making a film. Only after being prodded by limiting questions by enthusiasts wanting to slot the soul, shall he answer. Very rarely would you find an artist who can create, express, evaluate, judge, formulate rules and teach. I am a student, I am not a teacher yet. But I know I have the makings of a teacher.” – Vijay Anand

Wiki/Biography

Vijay Anand, also known as Goldie Anand, was born on Monday, 22 January 1934 (age 70 years; at the time of death) in Gurdaspur, Punjab, British India. He studied at St Xaviers College in Mumbai.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 10″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Vijay Anand belonged to an upper-middle-class Punjabi Hindu family in Gurdaspur, Punjab.

Parents & Siblings

His father, Pishori Lal Anand, was an advocate. He lost his mother when he was six. Vijay Anand had six siblings, three brothers – Manmohan Anand, Chetan Anand (director), and Dev Anand (actor, director, and producer) – and three sisters – Sheel Kanta Kapur (Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur’s mother), Usha Madhok, and Bonnie Sareen.

Wife & Children

Vijay Anand’s Short-Lived Marriage

Vijay Anand’s first marriage was with Loveleen. Reportedly, Vijay Anand met Loveleen for the first time when she interviewed him on behalf of Moscow radio. Looking at Loveleen’s beauty, Vijay Anand offered her the lead role in the Hindi romantic film ‘Jaan Kazir Hai’ (1975). During the making of the film, Loveleen started to bond with Vijay Anand and was fascinated by his attire which he used to wear as a disciple of Osho Rajneesh. Vijay eventually introduced the teachings of Osho Rajneesh to Loveleen, which she was totally got fascinated with. According to some sources, both of them would often visit Rajneesh’s ashram in Pune and spend around ten days a month there. Loveleen’s faith in Osho Rajneesh kept growing and so did her feelings for Vijay Anand, and she decided to move from Delhi to Rajneesh’s ashram in Pune. Later, Loveleen proposed to Vijay Anand for marriage; however he declined the proposal by saying that he had nothing except for a couple of clothes and footwear with him. This could not shake Loveleen’s decision to get married to Vijay Anand. She later gave up the offer for the film ‘Jaan Hazir Hai,’ thinking that Vijay would not like his to be wife to act in the films. Loveleen kept assuring Vijay that the only thing that mattered to her was spending her whole life with him. Reportedly, one day, guru Rajneesh called Loveleen and Vijay Anand to his private chamber and gave Loveleen’s hand in the hands of Vijay. Vijay Anand got married to Loveleen and lead his married life with her in Pune with the blessings of Osho Rajneesh.  Things were going well until Loveleen one fine day expressed her desire to continue working in films and asked Vijay Anand to write a script which features her as the heroine opposite a superstar actor. According to sources, Vijay decided not to pay much attention to Loveleen’s demand, but later, her desire of becoming a heroine kept growing stronger with every passing day. These demands took the form of heated arguments between the couple as Vijay wanted to detach himself from the fake world of showbiz and wished to continue working for the ashram. Some sources also claim that Vijay’s mental health was affected due to frequent fights and arguments. Going through frequent quarrels and arguments with Loveleen, Vijay decided to end this failed marriage.

A Controversial Marriage

After ending his marriage with Loveleen, Vijay Anand got married to Sushma Kohli, his niece (real sister’s daughter), in 1978. On 27 August 2023, Sushma passed away due to cardiac arrest. According to sources, she had been suffering from age-related illnesses.

Vijay’s son, Vaibhav Anand, is an actor, producer, and director.

Religion

Vijay Anand followed Hinduism.

Career

Writer

Vijay Anand made his debut as a writer with the film ‘Taxi Driver’ in 1954 starring Dev Anand and Kalpana Kartik.

Vijay Anand went on to write stories and dialogues for many Hindi classical films such as ‘Tere Ghar Ke Samne’ (1963), ‘Guide’ (1965), ‘Johny Mera Naam’ (1970), and ‘Ram Balram’ (1980).

And as an active student of cinema, I want to learn and learn and learn, and in that state I feel… Why should anyone else write my story or screenplay or make my music? Because, every other man’s limitations are diluting and weakening my strength!” – Vijay Anand

Actor

Film

Vijay Anand debuted as an actor with the Hindi-language comedy film ‘Joru Ka Bhai’ in 1955.

In 1956, he made a special appearance in the film ‘Funtoosh.’ Vijay played many roles such as Sunil in ‘Agra Road’ (1957), Nand Kumar Chattopadhyay in ‘Kala Bazar’ (1960), Major Pratap Singh in ‘Haqeeqat’ (1964), Spy in ‘Prem Pujari’ (1970), Dr Jagannath Kothari in ‘Tere Mere Sapne’ (1971), and Brij Mohan Sharma in ‘Hum Rahe Na Hum’ (1984).

Television Series

In 1994, Vijay Anand appeared as Sam D’Silva, a private detective, in the Hindi language crime drama television series ‘Tehkikaat.’ The series starred Saurabh Shukla as Gopichand, Sam D’Silva’s assistant. The series was broadcasted on the DD National channel.

Director

He made his directorial debut in 1957 with the Hindi-language comedy thriller film ‘Nau Do Gyarah,’ featuring Dev Anand, Kalpana Kartik, Lalita Pawar, and Jeevan among others.

Vijay Anand directed many other films including the romantic drama film ‘Guide’ (1965), the musical thriller film ‘Teesri Manzil’ (1966), ‘Jewel Thief’ (1967), ‘Johny Mera Naam’ (1970), and ‘Main Tere Liye’ (1988).

If the director understands his subject, story and characters well, he will not compromise in any aspect.” – Vijay Anand

Vijay Anand behind the camera

Vijay Anand is known for his creative picturization of songs with a unique screenplay. Songs like ‘Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hain’ from Guide (1965), ‘Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas’ from Blackmail (1973), and ‘O Haseena Zulfonwale Jane Jahan’ from Teesri Manzil (1966) are some of his iconically directed songs of the Hindi Cinema.

My camera listens to the song and moves with it.” – Vijay Anand

Awards

• In 1965, Vijay Anand won Filmfare Award for Best Director for the film ‘Guide’ and in the same year, he won Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue for the film ‘Guide.’

• In 1970, he won Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay for the film ‘Johny Mera Naam.’ He also won Filmfare Award for Best Editing for the same film. In the same year, he won the Bengal Film Journalists’ Association (BJFA) Awards as Best Editor for the film ‘Johny Mera Naam’ (1970).

• In 1973, Vijay Anand won the Bengal Film Journalists’ Association (BJFA) Awards as Best Editor for the film ‘Double Cross’ (1972).

Death

On 23 February 2004, Vijay Anand died of cardiac arrest in Mumbai.

Favourites

• Holiday destination: Hampstead, London

• Film: Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960) by Ritwik Ghatak

Facts/Trivia

• Vijay Anand had a faith in spirituality and astronomy and was a disciple of guru Rajneesh, a mystic and spiritual teacher; however, he stopped following Osho Rajneesh after some time when he couldn’t find solutions to his personal life problems. According to Vijay’s son, Vaibhav, Vijay Anand had certain questions for Rajneesh, which he couldn’t answer, and Vijay realised that Rajneesh is not a God. He was more disappointed with Rajneesh when he was asked to make a film about him by Rajneesh. While talking about this in an interview, Vaibhav said,
  

  Dad realised there was something amiss about Rajneesh. He didn’t seem to be Bhagwan. Dad had certain questions for which Rajneesh had no answers. He got further disappointed with Rajneesh when he asked dad to make a film on him. Dad said, ‘Goodbye, thank you and f*** off!’ He realised the man was no longer spiritual. He’d turned materialistic. He wrote a letter to him saying this was not what he’d come to him for and left the ashram the next day.”

• Reportedly, his father used to call him Goldilocks.

• According to Vijay Anand’s wife, Sushma, he was fond of watches and had grown fond of horses while working with Kalyanji–Anandji, an Indian composer duo, Kalyanji Virji Shah and his brother Anandji Virji Shah.

• In an interview, Sushma revealed that Vijay Anand had a passion for ballroom dancing, waltz and foxtrot, and as a youngster, he used to travel from Chetan Anand’s shack to a school in Colaba to learn the waltz.

• According to Sushma, Vijay Anand’s wife, he loved wearing shirts and would often pick dozens at a time.

• According to Vijay’s son, Vaibhav Anand, Vijay Anand learnt scriptwriting from his elder brother Chetan Anand.

• Vijay Anand served as the chief of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a statutory film-certification body in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India, for short period. He resigned from the post in 2002 after he ran into ideological differences with the government over the introduction of ratings for adult movies.

• Reportedly, Vijay Anand was bedridden for a year as his kidney operation went wrong. His friend Amarjeet nursed him religiously and as a gesture of gratitude, Vijay gave Amarjeet the film ‘Hum Dono’ (1961) to direct; however, he refused to take it. Vijay Anand directed the film and gave Amarjeet the credit.

• According to Sushma, Vijay Anand, with some knowledge of astrology, predicted that February 2004 (the month he passed away) would be a bad month for him.