Kumar Gaurav is an Indian actor who shot to fame with the blockbuster romantic film ‘Love Story’ released in 1981. He later starred in successful films like ‘Janam (1985)’, ‘Naam (1986)’ and ‘Kaante (2002)’. 

Kumar Gaurav was born as Manoj Tuli on July 11, 1960 to renowned Bollywood actor Rajendra Kumar. Kumar Gaurav attended the prestigious Bishop Cotton School in Simla, Himachal Pradesh.

Kumar Gaurav made his acting debut in the year 1981 as a romantic hero in ‘Love Story’ opposite Vijeyta Pandit. Produced and directed by his father Rajendra Kumar, ‘Love Story’ also starred Rajendra Kumar, Vidya Sinha, Danny Denzongpa and Naresh. The film became a super success and Kumar Gaurav became a rage among the youngster. 

Kumar Gaurav next appeared in A C Trilogchander’s ‘Teesri Kasam (1982)’ also starring Poonam Dhillon, Girish Karnad and Nirupa Roy.

Kumar Gaurav earned positive reviews for his performance in Mahesh Bhatt’s ‘Janam (1985)’ directed by Mukesh Bhatt. It was one of the autobiographical films of Mahesh Bhatt. Kumar Gaurav starred alongside Sanjay Dutt, Nutan, Poonam Dhillon and Amrita Singh in his home production film ‘Naam (1986)’ directed by Mahesh Bhatt.

Kumar Gaurav played the lead in the musical blockbuster ‘Star (1982)’ opposite Rati Agnihotri, Sadashiv Rao Kavi’s ‘Begaana (1986)’ alongside Dharmendra and Supriya Chaudhury, ‘Lovers (1984)’ opposite Padmini Kolhapure, ‘Romance (1983)’ opposite Poonam Dhillon and ‘Divorce (1984)’opposite Jasmin.

During nineties, Kumar Gaurav appeared in a few films like ‘Aaj (1987)’ opposite Anamika Paul, ‘Hai Meri Jaan (1991)’ opposite Ayesha Julka, ‘Pratigyabadh’ opposite Neelam, ‘Indrajeet (1991)’ opposite Neelam and ‘Siyasat (1992)’ opposite Kimi Katkar. He starred opposite Madhuri Dixit in ‘Phool (1993)’ alongside his father Rajendra Kumar and father in law Sunil Dutt.

Kumar Gaurav married Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt’s daughter Namrata Dutt and the couple is blessed with two girls named Saachi and Siya. Namrata is the sister of renowned Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and Member of Parliament Priya Dutt. Kumar Gaurav shared the screen space with father in law Sunil Dutt in ‘Phool (1993)’ and his brother in law Sanjay Dutt in ‘Naam (1986)’ and ‘Kaante (2002)’.

Kumar Gaurav took a sabbatical for seven years and returned to acting in Mazhar Khan’s ‘Gang (2000)’ also starring Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Jaaved Jaffrey and Juhi Chawla. 

He played one of the six protagonists in Sanjay Gupta’s dark thriller film ‘Kaante (2002)’. ‘Kaante’ starred an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Mahesh Manjrekar, Lucky Ali, Malaika Arora, Namrata Singh Gujral, Rati Agnihotri and Isha Koppikar. ‘Kaante’ was hugely inspired from Quentin Tarantino’s Hollywood film ‘Reservoir Dogs’ starring Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi and Chris Penn. Namrata Singh Gujral, an American actress played Kumar Gaurav’s love interest in ‘Kaante (2002)’.

Kumar Gaurav appeared in Rohit Jagessar’s drama film ‘Guiana 1838 (2004)’ alongside Aarti Bathija, Thomas Garvey, Rufus Graham among others. Based on thethe sensitive socialissue of slavery, ‘Guiana 1838 (2004)’ received positive reviews from the critics. He was recently seen in Suresh Triveni’s comedy drama silent film ‘My Daddy Strongest (2009)’ and ‘Bihaad’. 

Kumar Gaurav, despite giving riveting performances in several successful films could not become a superstar like other star sons. However he still continues to act and is expected to be seen in character roles in forthcoming films.