Kumar Gaurav, born Manoj Tuli on July 11, 1960, entered Bollywood with the weight of expectations on his shoulders, being the son of legendary actor Rajendra Kumar. His debut in 1981's Love Story, opposite Vijayta Pandit, was nothing short of sensational. The film became a massive hit, catapulting him to overnight stardom and establishing him as a romantic hero. The movie's success was attributed to its fresh story, memorable music by Rahul Dev Burman, and the chemistry between the debutant lead pair. Youngsters at the time began emulating his character in the film.

Riding high on the success of Love Story, Gaurav became a heartthrob, with producers eager to sign him. His next film, Teri Kasam (1982) with Poonam Dhillon, did moderately well. However, his subsequent film, the musical Star (1982), failed to replicate the success of his debut, despite its popular music. While his early success earned him the title of "Chocolate Boy of the 80s," the initial momentum soon faded.

In 1985, Kumar Gaurav starred in Mahesh Bhatt's television film Janam, a performance considered by many to be the finest of his career. The following year, he experienced another significant box office success with Naam (1986), again directed by Mahesh Bhatt and also starring his brother-in-law, Sanjay Dutt. Naam was produced by his father, Rajendra Kumar. Despite the film's success, Kumar Gaurav's career trajectory began to decline.

Several factors contributed to the actor's career downturn. While he showcased his versatility in films like Kaante and Guiana 1838, he couldn't maintain his initial stardom. After Naam, all of his subsequent films failed to perform well at the box office. In 1993, his father attempted to revive his career by producing Phool, in which Gaurav was paired with Madhuri Dixit.

Despite a relatively short career compared to his contemporaries, Kumar Gaurav's impact was significant. In 2004, Gaurav appeared in the American film, Guiana 1838, which told the story of Indians in British Guiana during the 19th century. In 2006, he starred in the silent film My Daddy Strongest. That remains his last acting role to date.

Kumar Gaurav married Namrata Dutt, sister of Sanjay Dutt, in 1984. They have two daughters, Saachi and Siya. Today, Kumar Gaurav is a businessman and runs a construction company. In an interview, Kumar Gaurav expressed that he has no regrets about leaving the film industry. He stated that he appreciates the love he received from his fans but enjoys his current space away from the limelight.