This Hit Bollywood Director Married His Niece While Still Married to First Wife
Vijay Anand first tied the knot with Loveleen Thadani, lead actress of Jaan Haazir Hai. In 1978, during the shoot of Ram Balram, he married his niece Sushma Kohli while still married to Loveleen.
The Hindi film industry has seen its share of unconventional love stories, but few have stirred as much controversy as that of veteran filmmaker Vijay Anand. Known for delivering some of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters in the 1970s and 1980s, he was credited with making his brother a superstar and was celebrated for his ‘golden touch’ on screen. Off screen, however, his personal choices shocked many when he married his own niece while still legally wed to his first wife.
Vijay Anand, the younger brother of Dev Anand, was the man behind classics like Guide, Jewel Thief, Johnny Mera Naam, and Kora Kagaz. Born in Gurdaspur, Punjab, he lost his mother at the age of seven and was raised by his father and siblings. His golden hair earned him the nickname ‘Goldie Locks’. While studying in Mumbai, his interest in drama and writing flourished, and he began scripting plays and films, following in the footsteps of his brothers who ran Navketan Productions.
His first marriage was to Loveleen Thadani, the heroine of his then-upcoming romantic film Jaan Haazir Hai. Loveleen fell in love with him during filming, and the two began visiting Osho Rajneesh’s Pune ashram together. It was Loveleen who proposed marriage, eventually leaving the film to be with him.
However, disagreements arose when Loveleen expressed her wish to return to acting, which Vijay strongly opposed. Their differences led to separation and eventually divorce.
By that time, another chapter in his personal life had already begun. In 1978, during the shooting of Ram Balram, Vijay Anand married his elder sister’s daughter, Sushma Kohli—while still legally married to Loveleen. The marriage caused a rift within the family, but Vijay and Sushma remained together until their deaths. They had a son, Vaibhav, who is now connected with the film industry.
In a 2018 interview, Sushma described Vijay Anand as a shy and calm man. “We got married in 1978 during the shooting of Ram Balram. I used to tease him on purpose—sometimes he would calmly explain things, and other times I would handle it my own way,” she said.
