In the realm of Bollywood's captivating yet often controversial narratives, the story of filmmaker V.J. Anand stands out due to its unusual complexities. V.J. Anand, the younger brother of the legendary Dev Anand, carved his own niche in the Hindi film industry, directing several hits in the 1970s and 80s. However, his personal life became the center of public attention when he fell in love with and married his niece, Sushma Kohli, while still married to his first wife.
Born in Gurdaspur, Punjab, V.J. Anand, who was also known as "Goldilocks" because of his golden-colored hair, had a keen interest in drama and writing from a young age. He started his career writing plays and film scripts, and eventually followed in the footsteps of his older brothers, who ran Navketan Productions.
V.J. Anand's first marriage was to Loveleen Thadani. However, their relationship ended after Loveleen expressed a desire to return to acting, which V.J. Anand disapproved of. During the shooting of his film "Ram Balram" in 1978, V.J. Anand defied societal norms and married Sushma Kohli, his elder sister's daughter, while still legally married to Loveleen. This decision caused a rift within his family. V.J. Anand and Sushma remained together until their deaths and had a son named Vaibhav, who is now involved in the film industry.
Sushma described V.J. Anand as a shy and calm person who rarely lost his temper. She recalled that she used to tease him on purpose, and he would either calmly explain things or she would manage the situation herself.
While V.J. Anand's story is unique, relationships within families, though controversial, are not unheard of. For instance, Raj Kapoor married his first cousin, Krishna Malhotra, in the 1930s. There have also been instances of Bollywood directors having affairs and marrying actresses they worked with. Anurag Kashyap married Kalki Koechlin after separating from his first wife. Aditya Chopra's relationship with Rani Mukherjee also became public after he divorced his first wife.
V.J. Anand's work includes classics such as "Guide", "Jewel Thief", "Johnny Mera Naam", and "Kora Kagaz". His personal life, particularly his marriage to his niece, remains a topic of discussion, highlighting the complexities and controversies that can occur even within the glamorous world of Bollywood.