Govinda (actor)
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Govind Arun Ahuja (born 21 December 1963) is an
Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...
actor, comedian, dancer, and former politician, who has appeared in more than 165
Hindi-language Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been des ...
film and established himself one of most popular actors in India. Govinda is known for his slapstick performances and dancing skills. He has received 12
Filmfare Award The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Hindi-language film industry of India.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were first introduced by th ...
nominations and won two
Filmfare Special Award The Filmfare Special Award or Special Performance Award or Special Mention or Special Jury Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films. It acknowledges a special and unique performance and encoura ...
s and a Filmfare Award for Best Comedian. In June 1999, he was voted the tenth-greatest star of stage or screen in last thousand years by
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poll. Starting out as an
action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...
and
dancing Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its reperto ...
hero in the 1980s, His first film was 1986's ''
Ilzaam ''Ilzaam'' () is a 1986 Bollywood drama film directed by Shibu Mitra and produced by Pahlaj Nihlani, starring Govinda in his film debut alongside Neelam, Shatrughan Sinha, Anita Raj, Shashi Kapoor and Prem Chopra. The film was declared a ...
'', which was a hit and other earlier
box-office A box office or ticket office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a wicket. By extension, the term is fr ...
hits include ''
Love 86 Love 86 (Hindi: लव Urdu: ) is a 1986 Bollywood romantic drama film directed by Esmayeel Shroff, starring Tanuja, Govinda, Rohan Kapoor, Farha Naaz and Neelam. It was a remake of the 1982 Tamil film '' Ilanjodigal''. This was Govinda's ...
'' (1986), ''
Hatya ''Hatya'' () is a 1988 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Kirti Kumar and starring Govinda, Neelam, Anupam Kher and Sujitha. This film is a remake of Malayalam film '' Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal'' (1986). Plot Sagar ( ...
'' (1988), ''
Jeete Hain Shaan Se ''Jeete Hain Shaan Se'' (trans: We Live With Honor) is a 1987 Bollywood action film directed by Kanwal Sharma, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt, and Govinda. Plot Johnny (Mithun Chakraborty), Govinda (Sanjay Dutt), and Iqbal (Govinda) ...
'' (1988), ''
Do Qaidi Do Qaidi () is a 1989 Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Ajay Kashyap starring Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Farah and Neelam Kothari. Plot Manu (Sanjay Dutt) and Kanu (Govinda) are two thieves. They work for criminal K.K. (Amrish Puri) ...
'' (1989), and ''
Hum Hum may refer to: Science * Hum (sound), a sound produced with closed lips, or by insects, or other periodic motion * Mains hum, an electric or electromagnetic phenomenon * The Hum, an acoustic phenomenon * Venous hum, a physiological sensation ...
'' (1991). However, Govinda would go on to reinvent himself as a comedy hero in the 1990s after his role as a mischievous young NCC cadet in the 1992 romance '' Shola Aur Shabnam''. Following his comedy debut, Govinda had lead roles in several commercially successful comedy films, including '' Aankhen'' (1993), '' Raja Babu'' (1994), '' Coolie No. 1'' (1995), '' Andolan'' (1995), '' Hero No. 1'' (1997), ''
Deewana Mastana ''Deewana Mastana'' is a 1997 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by David Dhawan. The film stars Govinda (actor), Govinda, Anil Kapoor, and Juhi Chawla in pivotal roles. Johnny Lever, Anupam Kher, Reema Lagoo, Shakti Kapoor, Sae ...
'' (1997), ''
Dulhe Raja ''Dulhe Raja'' (transl. ''Groom King'') is a 1998 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film starring Govinda, Raveena Tandon, Kader Khan, Johnny Lever, Prem Chopra and Asrani. Plot K. K. Singhania a business tycoon buys an expensive hotel "M ...
'' (1998), '' Bade Miyan Chote Miyan'' (1998), '' Anari No.1'' (1999) and ''
Jodi No. 1 ''Jodi No.1'' () is an Indian 2001 Hindi-language comedy film directed by David Dhawan. Released on 13 April 2001, the film stars Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, Anupam Kher, Twinkle Khanna and Monica Bedi. Budgeted at the film was a commercial succes ...
'' (2001). He would also receive a Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for ''
Haseena Maan Jayegi ''Hasina Maan Jayegi'' () is a 1968 Hindi film directed by Prakash Mehra. The film stars Shashi Kapoor, Babita, Ameeta, Yunus Parvez and Johnny Walker. The film's music, composed by Kalyanji Anandji, has songs which are quite memorable, with t ...
'' (1999) and a Filmfare Special Award for ''
Saajan Chale Sasural ''Saajan Chale Sasural'' () is a 1996 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film starring Govinda, Tabu, Karisma Kapoor, Kader Khan, and Satish Kaushik. It was directed by David Dhawan. It is a remake of the Telugu film ''Allari Mogudu'' (1992 ...
'' (1996). In the 2000 film '' Hadh Kar Di Aapne'', he played six roles: Raju and his mother, father, sister, grandmother and grandfather. After a series of several unsuccessful films in the 2000s, his later commercial successes include ''
Bhagam Bhag ''Bhagam Bhag'' () is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language comedy thriller film written and directed by Priyadarshan from the screenplay by Neeraj Vora. It was produced by Sunil Shetty and Dhilin Mehta. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Govinda and Paresh Raw ...
'' (2006), ''
Partner Partner, Partners, The Partner, or, The Partners may refer to: Books * ''The Partner'' (Grisham novel), by John Grisham, 1997 * ''The Partner'' (Jenaro Prieto novel), 1928 * ''The Partners'' (book), a 1983 book by James B. Stewart * ''Partner'' (m ...
'' (2007), and '' Holiday'' (2014). In 2015, Govinda became a judge on Season 2 of
Zee TV Zee TV (stylised as ZEE TV) is a Hindi general entertainment pay television channel in India. It was launched on 2 October 1992, as the first privately owned TV channel in the country. It is owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. Zee TV also ...
's dance-contest program, '' Dance India Dance Super Moms''. The show received the highest TRP of any reality-show opening episode. Govinda was a member of the
Parliament of India The Parliament of India ( IAST: ) is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of India. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the president of India and two houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the ...
from 2004 to 2009. As part of the
Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
, he was elected the 7th
member of parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...
for the
Mumbai North Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency (formerly, Bombay City North Lok Sabha constituency) is one of the 48 Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies of Maharashtra state in western India. Assembly segments Before delimitation, Mumbai North Lok ...
constituency of
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in the 14th Lok Sabha elections in 2004, defeating
Ram Naik Ram Naik (born 16 April 1934) is a veteran Indian politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party, served as the 27th Governor of Uttar Pradesh. Political career Ram Naik was a member of the 13th Lok Sabha and was Minister of Oil and Natural Gas i ...
of the
Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; ; ) is a political party in India, and one of the two major Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, it has been the ruling political party in India under Narendra Modi ...
. He is currently working on a famous and popular
Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
show on
Zee Bangla Zee Bangla is an Indian general entertainment pay television channel broadcasting in the Bengali language. It is owned by the Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It is the first Bengali-language satellite television channel in India, officially com ...
Dance Bangla Dance ''Dance Bangla Dance'' is a Bengali reality show program, which airs in Zee Bangla. It was later remade in Hindi as ''Dance India Dance''. It first started on 6 April 2007, following ''Dance India Dance'' by Mithun Chakraborty, who had been the ...
2021, Season 11 as Judge which started airing on 22 May 2021.


Early life and background

Govinda was born into a Hindu
Khatri Khatri is a caste of the Indian subcontinent that is predominantly found in India, but also in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the subcontinent, they were mostly engaged in mercantilistic professions such as banking and trade, they were the d ...
family on 21 December 1963 to former actor Aroon (alias Arun Kumar Ahuja) and singer-actress
Nirmala Devi Nirmala Devi, also known as Nirmala Arun (7 June 1927 15 June 1996), was an Indian actress in the 1940s and a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Patiala Gharana. She is the mother of Bollywood actor Govinda. Nirmala Devi was the wife of ...
. Govinda's mother hailed from
Varanasi Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. * * * * The city has a syncretic t ...
,
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
. Aroon came to
Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
from Gujranwala,
Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
which is now in
Punjab, Pakistan Punjab (; , ) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in central-eastern region of the country, Punjab is the second-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the largest province by population. It shares land borders with the ...
, to become an actor in the late 1930s. He is best known for appearing in
Mehboob Khan Mehboob Khan (born Mehboob Khan Ramzan Khan; 9 September 1907
at filmreference.com.
– 28 ...
's '' Aurat'' (1940). Aroon's professional career as an actor lasted for 15 years, from 1939 to 1954. In these years, he worked as a hero in 30 films. He produced one unsuccessful film which caused financial loss. The family, living in a bungalow on
Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
's Carter Road, moved to
Virar Virar (Pronunciation: iɾaɾ is a coastal city in taluka Vasai and district of Palghar, India. It is clubbed into Vasai-Virar city, administered by Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation. It lies in south part of Palghar District in Vasai Talu ...
, a northern Mumbai
suburb A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...
, where Govinda was born. The youngest of 6 children, he was given the pet name "Chi Chi," meaning "little finger" in Punjabi.


Acting career


1986–90: Debut and breakthrough

After Govinda received a
Bachelor of Commerce A Bachelor of Commerce (abbreviated BComm or BCom; also, ''baccalaureates commercii'') is an undergraduate degree in business, usually awarded in Canada, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ireland, New Zealand, Ghana, South Africa, Myanmar, ...
degree from Vartak College, Vasai, his father suggested a career in films. Around this time, Govinda saw the film ''
Disco Dancer ''Disco Dancer'' is a 1982 Indian dance film, written by Rahi Masoom Raza and directed by Babbar Subhash. It stars Mithun Chakraborty and Kim in leading roles, with Om Puri, Gita Siddharth and Karan Razdan in supporting roles with Rajesh K ...
''; afterward, he practiced for hours and circulated a promotional VHS cassette. He was offered jobs in a fertilizer commercial and an Allwyn ad. He was offered the role of Abhimanyu in the popular mythological serial ''
Mahabharat The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the '' Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuru ...
'' (1988) during its casting and he even had auditioned for it. Still, soon he bagged his first Bollywood film. His first lead role was in ''
Tan-Badan ''Tan-Badan'' is a 1986 Bollywood film starring Govinda and Khushbu. Although '' Love 86'' and ''Ilzaam'' released before this film, this movie is Govinda's debut, directed by his maternal uncle (and his wife's brother-in-law) Anand Singh. Ca ...
'' opposite
Khushbu Khushbu Sundar (born Nakhat Khan; 29 September 1970) is an Indian actress, politician, film producer and television presenter. She is known for her works predominantly in Tamil, besides Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada films. She is a rec ...
, directed by his uncle Anand. Govinda began shooting for his next film, ''
Love 86 Love 86 (Hindi: लव Urdu: ) is a 1986 Bollywood romantic drama film directed by Esmayeel Shroff, starring Tanuja, Govinda, Rohan Kapoor, Farha Naaz and Neelam. It was a remake of the 1982 Tamil film '' Ilanjodigal''. This was Govinda's ...
'', in June 1985. His first release was ''
Ilzaam ''Ilzaam'' () is a 1986 Bollywood drama film directed by Shibu Mitra and produced by Pahlaj Nihlani, starring Govinda in his film debut alongside Neelam, Shatrughan Sinha, Anita Raj, Shashi Kapoor and Prem Chopra. The film was declared a ...
'' (1986) which was a box office success, soon followed by another hit ''Love 86'' that same year. He went on to star in many films of various genres between 1987 and 1989 including the family dramas ''
Khudgarz Khudgarz () is a 1987 Indian Hindi-language action drama film, produced and directed by Rakesh Roshan under the Film Kraft banner. It stars Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Govinda, Bhanupriya, Amrita Singh and Neelam Kothari with music composed ...
'' (1987), ''
Dariya Dil ''Dariya Dil'' () is a 1988 Hindi-language Indian drama film directed by K. Ravi Shankar, starring Govinda, Kimi Katkar, Roshni and Raj Kiran. The film was released on 8 January 1988 in India. The film has gained renewed interest as one of it ...
'' (1988), '' Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani'' (1988) and action and drama films including ''
Hatya ''Hatya'' () is a 1988 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Kirti Kumar and starring Govinda, Neelam, Anupam Kher and Sujitha. This film is a remake of Malayalam film '' Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal'' (1986). Plot Sagar ( ...
'' (1988), '' Marte Dam Tak'' (1987), ''
Jeete Hain Shaan Se ''Jeete Hain Shaan Se'' (trans: We Live With Honor) is a 1987 Bollywood action film directed by Kanwal Sharma, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt, and Govinda. Plot Johnny (Mithun Chakraborty), Govinda (Sanjay Dutt), and Iqbal (Govinda) ...
'' (1988) and ''
Jung Baaz ''Jungbaaz'' is a Hindi action drama movie directed by Mehul Kumar. It stars Raaj Kumar, Govinda, Mandakini in lead roles. The movie was remake of tamil film Jallikattu. Plot Cast *Raaj Kumar as Advocate KP Saxena *Moushumi Chatterjee as Mr ...
'' (1989). Govinda worked with
David Dhawan David Dhawan (born Rajinder Dhawan; 16 August 1951) is an Indian director of Hindi films. A member of the Dhawan family, he has directed over 42 films. The 1993 action thriller '' Aankhen'' and 1999 comedy '' Biwi No.1'' earned him two Filmfar ...
for the first time in the 1989 action film ''
Taaqatwar ''Taaqatwar'' (English: Powerful) is a 1989 Indian Hindi-language action film directed by David Dhawan (in his directorial debut) and starring Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, Neelam Kothari and Anita Raj. It was a box office failure. Govinda worked with ...
'' and worked with Rajinikanth and Sridevi in ''
Gair Kanooni ''Gair Kaanooni'' () is a 1989 Indian Hindi-language action film directed and written by Prayag Raj. The film stars Govinda and Sridevi. Kimi Katkar, Shashi Kapoor, Ranjeet and Kader Khan are featured in supporting role. Rajinikanth featur ...
'' that same year.


1990–99: Critical and commercial success

In 1990, Govinda starred in the cult classic ''
Awaargi Awaargi is a 1990 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Mahesh Bhatt starring Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Meenakshi Sheshadri in lead roles. Over the years it has gained critical praise and is considered a classic now. Govinda received critica ...
'', with
Anil Kapoor Anil Kapoor (born 24 December 1956) is an Indian actor and producer who works primarily in Hindi films, besides television and international films and television. In a career spanning over 40 years as an actor and since 2005 as a producer, Kapo ...
and
Meenakshi Sheshadri Meenakshi Seshadri (; born 16 November 1963) is a former Indian actress, model and dancer who worked primarily in Hindi films, with a few films in Telugu and Tamil. She made her debut with the film '' Painter Babu'' (1983) produced by Manoj ...
. ''
Swarg ''Swarg'' () is a 1990 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by David Dhawan, released in 1990. It stars Rajesh Khanna, Govinda, Juhi Chawla, Madhavi in lead roles. Swarg is the fourth last certified hit of Rajesh Khanna, as this was follo ...
'' and ''
Maha-Sangram Maha-Sangram (also known in the UK as ''The Big Battle'') is a 1990 Bollywood action romance film directed by Mukul Anand and starring Vinod Khanna, Aditya Pancholi, Govinda and Madhuri Dixit. The film is best known for bringing Aditya Pancholi ...
'' co-starring
Vinod Khanna Vinod Khanna (6 October 1946 – 27 April 2017) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who is best known for his work in Hindi films; while also being a notable spiritual seeker. In Bollywood, he was the recipient of two Filmfare awa ...
,
Aditya Pancholi Aditya Pancholi (born 4 January 1965) is an Indian actor, producer and playback singer working in Hindi cinema. Acting career 1985–87: Television movies and serials He was signed for a few television video films produced by Hiba, which ...
and
Madhuri Dixit Madhuri Dixit Nene (née Dixit; born 15 May 1967) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. A leading actress of Indian cinema, she has appeared in over 70 films. Noted by critics for her beauty, dancing skills, and characters ...
were also successful. In 1991, he appeared alongside Amitabh Bachchan and
Rajnikanth Shivaji Rao Gaikwad (born 12 December 1950), known professionally as Rajinikanth, is an Indian actor, producer and screenwriter. In a career spanning over five decades, he has done 160 films that includes films in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannad ...
in the hit film ''
Hum Hum may refer to: Science * Hum (sound), a sound produced with closed lips, or by insects, or other periodic motion * Mains hum, an electric or electromagnetic phenomenon * The Hum, an acoustic phenomenon * Venous hum, a physiological sensation ...
''. In 1992 he appeared in ''
Zulm Ki Hukumat ''Zulm Ki Hukumat'' is a 1992 Bollywood action film starring Dharmendra and Govinda, and directed by Bharat Rangachary. Plot Pitamber Koli (Dharmendra) lives a powerful mafia boss existence with his wife and two brothers, Yeshwant and Pratap ...
'', an Indian version of ''
The Godfather ''The Godfather'' is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel of the same title. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caa ...
'', and
David Dhawan David Dhawan (born Rajinder Dhawan; 16 August 1951) is an Indian director of Hindi films. A member of the Dhawan family, he has directed over 42 films. The 1993 action thriller '' Aankhen'' and 1999 comedy '' Biwi No.1'' earned him two Filmfar ...
's '' Shola Aur Shabnam'' opposite actress
Divya Bharti Divya Bharti (; 25 February 1974 – 5 April 1993) was an Indian actress who worked predominantly in Hindi and Telugu films. Known for her acting versatility and beauty, she was considered one of the most popular and highest paid Indian actre ...
. His successful collaboration with Dhawan continued with '' Aankhen'', the highest-grossing film of 1993. He and Dhawan would make several successful comedy films which included: '' Raja Babu'' (1994), '' Coolie No. 1'' (1995), ''
Saajan Chale Sasural ''Saajan Chale Sasural'' () is a 1996 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film starring Govinda, Tabu, Karisma Kapoor, Kader Khan, and Satish Kaushik. It was directed by David Dhawan. It is a remake of the Telugu film ''Allari Mogudu'' (1992 ...
'' (1996), '' Banarasi Babu'' (1997), ''
Deewana Mastana ''Deewana Mastana'' is a 1997 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by David Dhawan. The film stars Govinda (actor), Govinda, Anil Kapoor, and Juhi Chawla in pivotal roles. Johnny Lever, Anupam Kher, Reema Lagoo, Shakti Kapoor, Sae ...
'' (1997), '' Hero No. 1'' (1997), '' Bade Miyan Chote Miyan'' (1998) and ''
Haseena Maan Jaayegi ''Haseena Maan Jaayegi'' () is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by David Dhawan. It stars Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Karisma Kapoor and Pooja Batra, with Anupam Kher, Kader Khan, Aruna Irani, and Paresh Rawal in supporting. The ...
'' (1999). The actor sang in some of his films: "Meri Pant Bhi Sexy" in '' Dulaara'' and "Gori Gori" in '' Shola Aur Shabnam''. Dhawan and other directors frequently cast him with actresses such as
Karishma Kapoor Karisma Kapoor (born 25 June 1974) is an Indian actress, who works in Hindi films. A member of the Kapoor family, she is the recipient of several accolades, including a National Film Award and four Filmfare Awards. Kapoor made her acting de ...
,
Juhi Chawla Juhi Chawla (born 13 November 1967) is an Indian actress, film producer and entrepreneur. She established herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. Recognised for her comic timing and v ...
and
Raveena Tandon Raveena Tandon (born 26 October 1972) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. The daughter of director Ravi Tandon, she made her acting debut in the 1991 action film ''Patthar Ke Phool'', which won her the Filmfare Award for New Face of ...
during this decade.


2000–05: Slump and break from films

Govinda's career had a setback during the early 2000s after a series of commercially unsuccessful films. His only major hit film during the early 2000s was ''
Jodi No. 1 ''Jodi No.1'' () is an Indian 2001 Hindi-language comedy film directed by David Dhawan. Released on 13 April 2001, the film stars Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, Anupam Kher, Twinkle Khanna and Monica Bedi. Budgeted at the film was a commercial succes ...
'' (2001). His other films'', Hadh Kar Di Aapne, Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta ''and '' Ek Aur Ek Gyarah'' were moderately successful. He received nominations for the Filmfare Awards for Best Performance in a Comic Role for ''Jodi No. 1, Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta'' and ''
Akhiyon Se Goli Maare Akhiyon Se Goli Maare () is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language comedy film, directed by Harmesh Malhotra, starring Govinda, Raveena Tandon, Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Asrani and Johnny Lever. The film was released on 2 August 2002. The name of the f ...
'' (2002). He turned down roles in '' Taal'', '' Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'' and ''
Devdas ''Devdas'' ( bn, দেবদাস, transliterated as ''Debdās'') is a Bengali romance novel written by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee. The story pivots a tragic triangle linking Devdas, an archetypal lover in viraha (separation); Paro, his forbidd ...
'', all of which were highly successful. Govinda then joined the Indian National Congress. He won a seat in Parliament from Mumbai North by defeating five-time MP Ram Naik, a former
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOP&NG) is a ministry of the government of India responsible for the exploration, production, refining, distribution, marketing, import, export, and conservation of petroleum, natural gas, petroleum ...
, by over 50,000 votes in the 2004 general election. The actor took a break from films during the period of 2003 to 2005. He had no new film releases in 2004 and 2005, although some of his delayed films were released during this time, (such as 2005's '' Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen'' and '' Ssukh''— produced by Govinda and directed by his brother, Kirti Kumar and 2006's ''
Sandwich A sandwich is a food typically consisting of vegetables, sliced cheese or meat, placed on or between slices of bread, or more generally any dish wherein bread serves as a container or wrapper for another food type. The sandwich began as a po ...
'') which were box office failures.


2006–09: Comeback

Govinda made a comeback to films in late 2006 with the comedy ''
Bhagam Bhag ''Bhagam Bhag'' () is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language comedy thriller film written and directed by Priyadarshan from the screenplay by Neeraj Vora. It was produced by Sunil Shetty and Dhilin Mehta. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Govinda and Paresh Raw ...
'' (directed by
Priyadarshan Priyadarshan (born 30 January 1957) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer who works predominantly in Malayalam and Hindi films, while also having done six films in Tamil and two films in Telugu. He has done about 31 films in Hi ...
), in which he appeared with Akshay Kumar and
Lara Dutta Lara Dutta (born 16 April 1978) is an Indian actress, entrepreneur and the winner of the Miss Universe 2000 pageant. She was previously crowned as Miss Intercontinental 1997. In her career, she has primarily worked in Hindi films. She is the ...
. It was Govinda and Kumar's first film together. His first release of 2007 was director
Nikhil Advani Nikhil Suresh Advani (born 28 April 1971) is an Indian film and television director, writer and producer who works in Hindi cinema. He along with his sister, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani, co-founded the entertainment company Emmay Entert ...
's big-budget drama, '' Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love''. The all-star cast also included Shannon Esra,
Salman Khan Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan (; 27 December 1965) is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. In a film career spanning over thirty years, Khan has received numerous awards, including two Nation ...
,
Priyanka Chopra Priyanka Chopra Jonas (; ; born 18 July 1982) is an Indian actress and producer. The winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant, Chopra is one of India's highest-paid actresses and has received numerous accolades, including two National Film Awar ...
,
Anil Kapoor Anil Kapoor (born 24 December 1956) is an Indian actor and producer who works primarily in Hindi films, besides television and international films and television. In a career spanning over 40 years as an actor and since 2005 as a producer, Kapo ...
,
Juhi Chawla Juhi Chawla (born 13 November 1967) is an Indian actress, film producer and entrepreneur. She established herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. Recognised for her comic timing and v ...
,
Akshaye Khanna Akshaye Khanna (born 28 March 1975) is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi films. He is the son of actor Vinod Khanna. He has won numerous awards in his career including two Filmfare Awards, three Screen Awards and two IIFA Awards in varied ac ...
,
Ayesha Takia Ayesha Takia Azmi (née Takia; born 10 April 1986), is an Indian actress and former model who worked predominantly in Hindi films. Takia made her debut in 2004 with the action thriller '' Taarzan: The Wonder Car'' for which she won Filmfare Bes ...
,
John Abraham John Abraham (born 17 December 1972) is an Indian actor, film producer, writer and former model working in Hindi films. He has won a National Film Award and received five Filmfare nominations. After modelling for advertisements and companies, ...
,
Vidya Balan Vidya Balan (pronounced ; born 1 January 1979) is an Indian actress. Known for pioneering a change in the portrayal of women in Hindi cinema with her roles in female-led films, she is the recipient of several awards, including a National Fi ...
,
Sohail Khan ) Lambda Velorum (λ Velorum, abbreviated Lambda Vel, λ Vel), officially named Suhail , is a star in the southern constellation of Vela. With a mean apparent visual magnitude of 2.21, this is the third-brightest star in the constellati ...
and
Isha Koppikar Isha Koppikar (born 19 September 1976) is an Indian actress, model and politician who has mostly appeared in Hindi cinema. She has also acted in several Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Marathi films. Background Koppikar was born in Mahim, Bombay (n ...
. Govinda played Raju, a taxi driver who helps the Caucasian Stephanie (Shannon Esra) who is frantically trying to find her lover. Raju eventually falls in love with her. Although the film was a
box office disappointment A box-office bomb, or box-office disaster, is a film that is unprofitable or considered highly unsuccessful during its theatrical run. Although any film for which the production, marketing, and distribution costs combined exceed the revenue after ...
, Govinda's performance was praised. His second release that year was a comedy directed by David Dhawan's ''
Partner Partner, Partners, The Partner, or, The Partners may refer to: Books * ''The Partner'' (Grisham novel), by John Grisham, 1997 * ''The Partner'' (Jenaro Prieto novel), 1928 * ''The Partners'' (book), a 1983 book by James B. Stewart * ''Partner'' (m ...
'' co-starring
Salman Khan Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan (; 27 December 1965) is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. In a film career spanning over thirty years, Khan has received numerous awards, including two Nation ...
,
Katrina Kaif Katrina Kaif (; born Katrina Turquotte; 16 July 1983) is a British actress who works in Hindi-language films. One of the highest-paid actresses in India, she has received accolades, including four Screen Awards and four Zee Cine Awards, in a ...
and
Lara Dutta Lara Dutta (born 16 April 1978) is an Indian actress, entrepreneur and the winner of the Miss Universe 2000 pageant. She was previously crowned as Miss Intercontinental 1997. In her career, she has primarily worked in Hindi films. She is the ...
. The film grossed in India during its opening week, the second-highest domestic opening-week gross for an Indian film at that time. Govinda won several awards for his performance in ''Partner'' including an IIFA Award for Best Comedian and a Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male. The previously made ''
Jahan Jaaeyega Hamen Paaeyega ''Jahan Jaaeyega Hamen Paaeyega'' () is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language romantic thriller film directed by Janmendra Ahuja and produced by Dr Lakhan Sinhaa. The film stars Govinda, Sakshi Shivanand, Sharat Saxena, Kader Khan and Mukesh Rishi in the ...
'' was directed by his nephew Janmendra alias Dumpy, who was 17 years of age at that time. ''Jahan Jaaeyega Hamen Paaeyega'' released in 2007 and did poorly at the box office. The film also introduced two of Govinda's nephews,
Krishna Abhishek Abhishek Sharma (born 30 May 1983), popularly known by his screen name Krushna Abhishek, is an Indian actor, comedian and television host from Mumbai, Maharashtra. He is notable for his humours work in comedy shows on Indian television such as ...
and
Vinay Anand Vinay Anand (born 23 March 1978) is an Indian actor, having featured in around 60 Hindi and Bhojpuri movies. Known for his roles in movies like '' Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya'', ''Sautela'', '' Jahan Jaaeyega Hamen Paaeyega'' and ''Aamdani Atthani K ...
. Govinda also appeared in the song "Deewangi Deewangi", from ''
Om Shanti Om ''Om Shanti Om'' (transl. ''Peace Be With You'') is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language fantasy romance film written and directed by Farah Khan, co-written by Mayur Puri and Mushtaq Shiekh, and produced by Gauri Khan under the banner of Red Chillies ...
'' (2007) starring
Shahrukh Khan Shah Rukh Khan (; born 2 November 1965), also known by the initialism SRK, is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. Referred to in the media as the " Baadshah of Bollywood", "King of Bollywood" ...
. In 2008, Govinda appeared in ''
Money Hai Toh Honey Hai ''Money Hai Toh Honey Hai'' () is a Bollywood comedy film directed by Ganesh Acharya and produced by Kumar Mangat, story and screenplay by Muazzam Beg. It features a cast of stars including Govinda, Aftab Shivdasani, Upen Patel, Hansika Motwani ...
'', directed by Bollywood choreographer
Ganesh Acharya Ganesh Acharya is an Indian choreographer, film director, and actor who prominently works in Bollywood. He won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for his work on the songs "Hawan Kund" from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) and "Gori tu lat ...
, which was a box office failure. This was followed by a TK Rajeev Kumar directed comedy, ''
Chal Chala Chal ''Chal Chala Chal'' is a 2009 Hindi-language family satire film with Govinda in the lead role. The film is a remake of the 1989 Malayalam-language Indian film ''Varavelpu'' starring Mohanlal and many scenes from another Malayalam film ''Ee Para ...
''. Govinda's performance was praised, and the film was successful. That year Salman Khan invited Dhawan and Govinda on his show, '' 10 Ka Dum'', to celebrate the success of ''Partner''. The following year, he played a lawyer in the hit, ''
Life Partner The term significant other (SO) has different uses in psychology and in colloquial language. Colloquially, "significant other" is used as a gender-neutral term for a person's partner in an intimate relationship without disclosing or presuming ...
'', and his performance was praised by the critics. Govinda rejoined Dhawan and
Vashu Bhagnani Vashu Bhagnani is an Indian film producer who works in Bollywood films. His films include '' Coolie No. 1'' (1995), ''Hero No. 1'' (1997), ''Bade Miyan Chote Miyan'' (1998), ''Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai'' (2001), ''Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein'' (2002) ...
for ''
Do Knot Disturb ''Do Knot Disturb'' is a 2009 Indian comedy film directed by David Dhawan. The film is a remake of the 2006 French film ''The Valet'' (French: ''La Doublure''). The film stars Govinda, Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta, Sushmita Sen, Ranvir Shorey, Soh ...
''; despite good reviews from critics, it was unsuccessful at the box office.


2010–present

In 2010, Govinda appeared in
Mani Ratnam Gopala Ratnam Subramaniam (born 2 June 1956), known professionally as Mani Ratnam, is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema and few Hindi, Telugu and Kannada films. Ratnam has won six ...
's bilingual project, '' Raavan'', with
Abhishek Bachchan Abhishek Bachchan (born 5 February 1976) is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work in Hindi films. Part of the Bachchan family, he is the son of actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan and the grandson of poet Harivansh Rai Bach ...
and
Aishwarya Rai Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ( Rai; born 1 November 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her work in Hindi and Tamil films. The winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant, she has established herself as one of the most popular celebriti ...
. He played a Forest Ministry employee who takes Vikram's character through the woods in search of a wanted criminal. Govinda denied reports that his character was a contemporary version of
Hanuman Hanuman (; sa, हनुमान, ), also called Anjaneya (), is a Hindu god and a divine '' vanara'' companion of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and on ...
, and his performance in the minor role was praised. In 2011, he appeared in
Jagmohan Mundhra Jagmohan "Jag" Mundhra (29 October 1948 – 4 September 2011) was an Indian director, producer, and screenwriter, best known for his early career as an American exploitation film writer-director. Family and early life Mundhra was born at Nagpu ...
's adult comedy, ''
Naughty @ 40 ''Naughty @ 40'' (also known as/earlier titled as ''Excuse Me Please'') is a 2011 Hindi adult comedy film directed by Jagmohan Mundhra, while produced by Anuj Sharma under ''Gangani Multimedia Corporations'' and also distributed by ''Srishti C ...
''. Although the film received negative reviews, Govinda's performance was appreciated. He also appeared in Rajnish Thakur's comedy, '' Loot'', and voiced Bajrangi the monkey for
Nikhil Advani Nikhil Suresh Advani (born 28 April 1971) is an Indian film and television director, writer and producer who works in Hindi cinema. He along with his sister, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani, co-founded the entertainment company Emmay Entert ...
's animated ''
Delhi Safari ''Delhi Safari'' (also known as ''Jungle Safari'') is a 2012 Indian computer-animated musical comedy film written and directed by Nikkhil Advani. The film traces the journey of five animals from Mumbai to Delhi as they struggle against an oppress ...
''. In 2013, Govinda co-starred with
Priyanka Chopra Priyanka Chopra Jonas (; ; born 18 July 1982) is an Indian actress and producer. The winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant, Chopra is one of India's highest-paid actresses and has received numerous accolades, including two National Film Awar ...
in K. C. Bokadia's box office failure, ''
Deewana Main Deewana ''Deewana Main Deewana'' () is a 2013 Indian Hindi-language romantic thriller comedy film starring Govinda, Priyanka Chopra, Kader Khan, Prem Chopra, Johnny Lever and Shakti Kapoor directed by K. C. Bokadia. The film was released worldwide on 1 ...
'', which had been made about ten years earlier. The film, a Hindi remake of the Tamil film ''
Priyamudan ''Priyamudan'' () is a 1998 Indian Tamil-language romantic thriller film directed by Vincent Selva. The film stars Vijay in an antihero role and Kausalya as heroine, while Sujith Sagar plays a pivotal role. The story focuses on Vasanth, a yo ...
'', was directed by
Vincent Selva Vincent Selva is an Indian film director and screenwriter associated with the Tamil film industry. This director is best known for his debut flick, '' Priyamudan'' starring Vijay, Kausalya. Other directors such as Mysskin and S. P. Jananathan ...
; Govinda's performance as a villain was praised. He made his Bengali debut as a
deputy inspector general of police A Deputy Inspector General of Police (abbreviated as DIG) is a high-ranking official position in Police in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka. India Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) is a rank ...
in Dipak Sanyal's ''
Samadhi ''Samadhi'' (Pali and sa, समाधि), in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools, is a state of meditative consciousness. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ashtanga Yoga ...
'', co-starring
Gracy Singh Gracy Singh (born 20 July 1980) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. She is best known for her role in the films ''Lagaan'' and '' Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.'' ''Singh'' is also a trained Bharatnatyam and Odissi dancer. Career B ...
and
Sayali Bhagat Sayali Bhagat is an Indian actress and former beauty queen. She competed in Femina Miss India 2004 and won the title of Femina Miss India World. Early life She studied at Fravashi Academy, Nasik, and completed her graduation in BMS (Bachelor ...
, another box office failure. In 2014, Govinda appeared in
A.R. Murugadoss Murugadoss Arunasalam (born 25 September 1974), commonly known as A. R. Murugadoss, is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter who predominantly works in the Tamil film industry. He is best known for directing action films mainly on ...
's '' Holiday'', starring Akshay Kumar and
Sonakshi Sinha Sonakshi Sinha (; born 2 June 1987) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. After working as a costume designer in independent films, she made her acting with the action film ''Dabangg'' in 2010, which won her the Filmfare Award for Be ...
. This was the second collaboration of Govinda and Akshay Kumar after ''Bhagam Bhag''. Three years after his last starring role he starred in
Yash Raj Film Yash Raj Films (YRF) is an Indian film production and distribution company founded by veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra in 1970. It mainly produces and distributes Hindi and Punjabi films. The company has grown to be one of the largest film studi ...
's ''
Kill Dil ''Kill Dil'' () is a 2014 Indian Hindi-language romantic action comedy film directed by Shaad Ali and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film stars Ranveer Singh, Ali Zafar and Parineeti Chopra in lead roles with Gov ...
'', directed by
Shaad Ali Shaad Ali is an Indian filmmaker. Early life and education Ali was born to Muzaffar Ali and Subhashini Ali (née Sahgal), an Indian politician and member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He is thus the grandson of Azad Hind Fauj co ...
, with
Ranveer Singh Ranveer Singh Bhavnani (; born 6 July 1985) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. The recipient of several awards, including five Filmfare Awards, he is among the highest-paid Indian actors and has been featured in ''Forbes India''s ...
,
Parineeti Chopra Parineeti Chopra (; born 22 October 1988) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. Chopra is a recipient of several accolades, including a Filmfare and a National Film Award. She has appeared in ''Forbes India'' Celebrity 10 ...
and
Ali Zafar Ali Zafar ( pa, ; born 18 May 1980) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, model, actor, producer, screenwriter and painter. Zafar started out on Pakistani television before becoming a popular musician. He later also established a career in Bol ...
. Govinda last played an antagonist in 2000's '' Shikari''. In the film posters, he posed with a gun. The trailer was released on 18 September 2014. The trailer was appreciated by Amitabh Bachchan. The film was released on 14 November 2014; although ''
Kill Dil ''Kill Dil'' () is a 2014 Indian Hindi-language romantic action comedy film directed by Shaad Ali and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film stars Ranveer Singh, Ali Zafar and Parineeti Chopra in lead roles with Gov ...
'' was not a commercial success, Govinda's performance was praised by critics. He played a superstar in ''
Happy Ending A happy ending is an ending of the plot of a work of fiction in which almost everything turns out for the best for the main protagonists and their sidekicks, while the main villains/antagonists are dead/defeated. In storylines where the protago ...
'' with
Saif Ali Khan Saif Ali Khan (; born Sajid Ali Khan Pataudi; 16 August 1970) is an Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi films. Part of the Pataudi family, he is the son of actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Khan ...
and
Ileana D'Cruz Ileana D'Cruz (born 1 November 1987) is an Indian-born Portuguese actress and model who predominantly appears in Telugu language, Telugu and Hindi language films. D'Cruz was born in Mumbai and spent most of her childhood in Goa. D'Cruz made her ...
, his first appearance with Khan. Its trailer was released on 9 October 2014. The film was released on 21 November 2014; it was a box office failure, but Govinda's performance was praised. In 2015 Govinda appeared in ''Hey Bro'', starring Nupur Sharma and
Ganesh Acharya Ganesh Acharya is an Indian choreographer, film director, and actor who prominently works in Bollywood. He won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for his work on the songs "Hawan Kund" from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) and "Gori tu lat ...
. In 2017, Govinda was seen as a cop in his home production '' Aa Gaya Hero'', which was directed by Deepankar Senapati. The film also stars former Miss World Richa Sharma,
Ashutosh Rana Ashutosh Ramnarayan Neekhra (born 10 November 1967), known professionally as Ashutosh Rana, is an Indian actor, producer, author and television personality. He has worked in Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi films. He has also worked ...
,
Murali Sharma Murali Sharma (born 9 August 1972) is an Indian actor who works predominently in Telugu and Hindi films. Sharma has starred in over 130 feature films, including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Marathi and Malayalam cinema. Sharma gained wide recognitio ...
,
Makarand Deshpande Makarand Deshpande (born 6 March 1966) is an Indian actor, writer, and director in Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil cinema, and Indian Theatre. He is often seen in supporting and pivotal roles in various films like ''Jungle'' ...
and Harish Kumar. ''Aa Gaya Hero'' will be Govinda's third home production, after ''Hatya'' and ''Ssukh''. It was released on 17 March 2017. The film was not successful at the box office. He will next be seen alongside Varun Sharma in Fry Day. He appeared as Judge in ''
Zee Bangla Zee Bangla is an Indian general entertainment pay television channel broadcasting in the Bengali language. It is owned by the Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It is the first Bengali-language satellite television channel in India, officially com ...
''s ''
Dance Bangla Dance ''Dance Bangla Dance'' is a Bengali reality show program, which airs in Zee Bangla. It was later remade in Hindi as ''Dance India Dance''. It first started on 6 April 2007, following ''Dance India Dance'' by Mithun Chakraborty, who had been the ...
'' in its Grand Finale in 2016 and 2018. From 22 May he has appear again as Judge for all episodes in ''
Zee Bangla Zee Bangla is an Indian general entertainment pay television channel broadcasting in the Bengali language. It is owned by the Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It is the first Bengali-language satellite television channel in India, officially com ...
''s ''
Dance Bangla Dance ''Dance Bangla Dance'' is a Bengali reality show program, which airs in Zee Bangla. It was later remade in Hindi as ''Dance India Dance''. It first started on 6 April 2007, following ''Dance India Dance'' by Mithun Chakraborty, who had been the ...
''


Personal life

His brother, Kirti Kumar, is an actor, producer, director and singer. His sister, Kaamini Khanna, is a writer, music director, and singer. Govinda's uncle Anand Singh (assistant to director
Hrishikesh Mukherjee Hrishikesh Mukherjee (30 September 1922 – 27 August 2006) was an Indian film director, editor and writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of Indian cinema. Popularly known as ''Hrishi-da'', he directed 42 films during his ca ...
), introduced him in ''
Tan-Badan ''Tan-Badan'' is a 1986 Bollywood film starring Govinda and Khushbu. Although '' Love 86'' and ''Ilzaam'' released before this film, this movie is Govinda's debut, directed by his maternal uncle (and his wife's brother-in-law) Anand Singh. Ca ...
''. Singh's sister-in-law, Sunita Munjal, fell in love with Govinda at this time, and they were married on 11 March 1987, with their marriage remaining a secret for four years. They have two children: daughter Tina Ahuja and son Yashvardhan. Tina made her Bollywood debut in the 2015 ''
Second Hand Husband ''Second Hand Husband'' is a 2015 Indian romantic comedy film produced by GB Entertainment and directed by Smeep Kang and starring Gippy Grewal, Tina Ahuja, and Dharmendra. The film marks the Bollywood film debut of Govinda’s daughter, Tina ...
''. Govinda has six nephews and two nieces in the entertainment industry: actors
Vinay Anand Vinay Anand (born 23 March 1978) is an Indian actor, having featured in around 60 Hindi and Bhojpuri movies. Known for his roles in movies like '' Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya'', ''Sautela'', '' Jahan Jaaeyega Hamen Paaeyega'' and ''Aamdani Atthani K ...
,
Krishna Abhishek Abhishek Sharma (born 30 May 1983), popularly known by his screen name Krushna Abhishek, is an Indian actor, comedian and television host from Mumbai, Maharashtra. He is notable for his humours work in comedy shows on Indian television such as ...
, Aryan, Arjun Singh,
Ragini Khanna Ragini Khanna (born 9 December 1987) is an Indian film and television actress,model,comedian,singer and television host. She has hosted various reality shows, such as ''India's Best Dramebaaz'' (2013) and '' Gangs of Haseepur'' (2014). She is b ...
,
Amit Khanna Amit Khanna is an Indian film producer, director, writer, and journalist. He was the founder chairman of Reliance Entertainment, former president of the Producers Guild of India, and the founder trustee of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Imag ...
,
Aarti Singh ''Arti Sharma'' (born 5 April 1985) Known as Arti Singh is an Indian television actress. She is known for her work in '' Thoda Hai Bas Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai'', '' Parichay'' and '' Waaris''. In 2019, she participated in ''Bigg Boss 13'' as a c ...
and director Janmendra Kumar Ahuja (alias Dumpy). Govinda's brother-in-law, Devendra Sharma, has appeared in several Hindi films. Govinda was seriously injured on 5 January 1994 while travelling to a studio for the shooting of ''
Khuddar Khuddar ( Self-Respecting) is a 1994 Indian Hindi-language action film directed by Iqbal Durrani and starring Govinda, Karishma Kapoor and Kader Khan. Other cast includes Shakti Kapoor, Shreeram Lagoo, Anjana Mumtaz, Raju Shrestha, Mahesh Ana ...
''. The actor's car collided with another car, and he sustained head injuries. Although he was bleeding profusely, Govinda did not cancel the shoot; after seeing a doctor, he worked until midnight.


Political career

In 2004, Govinda joined the Congress Party and was elected to the
Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha, constitutionally the House of the People, is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-past ...
(the lower house of the
Indian parliament The Parliament of India ( IAST: ) is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of India. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the president of India and two houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the ...
) from
Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
by 50,000 votes over the five-term incumbent. During the elections, he said his agenda would be ''prawaas'' (transportation), ''swasthya'' (health) and ''gyaan'' (education). In the field of transportation, he claimed 80% credit for the quadrupling of the
Borivali Borivali (Pronunciation: oːɾiʋəliː is a suburb and is located at the north-western end of Mumbai and has a large Gujarati population followed by others. Traditionally the tribals and East Indians lived in Borivali. The attractions incl ...
-Virar section of the
Western Railway zone The Western Railway (abbreviated WR) is one of the 19 zones of Indian Railways and is among the busiest railway networks in India, headquartered at Mumbai, Maharashtra. The major railway routes of Indian Railways which come under Western Railw ...
. According to official sources, he made some efforts in the fields of health and education. The
Thane Thane (; also known as Thana, the official name until 1996) is a metropolitan city in Maharashtra, India. It is situated in the north-eastern portion of the Salsette Island. Thane city is entirely within Thane taluka, one of the seven taluk ...
district collector said in an interview that Govinda had committed money from his "local area development fund" (allocated to each MP by the government) to construct ''
anganwadi An Anganwadi is a type of rural child care centre in India. They were started by the Indian government in 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services program to combat child hunger and malnutrition. ''Anganwadi'' in H ...
s'' and solve drinking-water problems in
Vasai Vasai (Konkani and Marathi pronunciation: əsəi formerly and alternatively Mahratti; ''Bajipur'', English: Bassein; Portuguese: Baçaim), is a historical place and City near Mumbai (Bombay)'s western suburbs, located in Palghar district ...
and
Virar Virar (Pronunciation: iɾaɾ is a coastal city in taluka Vasai and district of Palghar, India. It is clubbed into Vasai-Virar city, administered by Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation. It lies in south part of Palghar District in Vasai Talu ...
but administrative approval was delayed.


Resignation

Govinda's film-star status could explain his inaccessibility to his constituents, but not his absence from parliament. During his tenure as the Member of Parliament, Govinda was usually absent when the Lok Sabha was in session and he was severely criticized for inactivity. At the same time, he continued his film career while he was serving as an MP. Indeed, his career witnessed a comeback of sorts in 2007, after the release of ''Partner''. He was pilloried in the press for the combination of continuing to act in films while being generally absent from parliament, and inaccessible to his constituents. On 20 January 2008, Govinda decided to leave politics and concentrate on his
Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...
acting career. Later Govinda said that he wasted his time by joining politics and it badly affected his films.


Controversy

In January 2008, Govinda slapped a struggling actor, Santosh Rai, on the set of ''
Money Hai Toh Honey Hai ''Money Hai Toh Honey Hai'' () is a Bollywood comedy film directed by Ganesh Acharya and produced by Kumar Mangat, story and screenplay by Muazzam Beg. It features a cast of stars including Govinda, Aftab Shivdasani, Upen Patel, Hansika Motwani ...
'' at
Filmistan Studio Filmistan is an Indian film studio based in Goregaon, Mumbai. Spread over five acres, near Patkar College on S.V. Road, the studio has seven shooting floors, and a temple and garden for outdoor locations. Patkar College's reputation has incr ...
in Mumbai. On 5 February 2009, Rai filed a complaint against Govinda, accusing him of assault and crime, in the
Borivali Borivali (Pronunciation: oːɾiʋəliː is a suburb and is located at the north-western end of Mumbai and has a large Gujarati population followed by others. Traditionally the tribals and East Indians lived in Borivali. The attractions incl ...
Magistrate Court. In 2013, the court ruled against Rai. In 2014, Rai took his case to the Supreme Court, saying that he had come to Mumbai to become an actor, and felt very humiliated when he was slapped by Govinda. According to Rai, he had contested the case for six years and had spent ₹500,000–600,000 on attorney fees. Since the actor did not apologise, he was more determined to fight him in court. In December 2015, the Supreme Court asked Govinda to apologise to Rai for slapping him and settle the whole matter out of the court immediately in the span of two weeks. The actor said that he "respects" the court's decision, and will decide when he receives it in writing.


Acting collaborations

Govinda has worked with
Shakti Kapoor Shakti Kapoor (born Sunil Kapoor; 3 September 1952) is an Indian actor and comedian who appears in Bollywood films. Known for his villainous and comic roles in Hindi films, he has featured in over 600 films. In the 1980s and 1990s, Kapoor teame ...
in 42 films. They last performed together in ''
Rangeela Raja ''Rangeela Raja'' () is a 2019 Indian Hindi-language black comedy directed by Sikander Bharti and written and produced by Pahlaj Nihalani. Starring Govinda, Mishika Chourasia and Anupama Agnihotri, the film was released on 18 January 2019. The ...
''. He has worked with
Kader Khan Kader Khan (22 October 1937 – 31 December 2018) was an Indian actor, screenwriter and film director. As an actor, he appeared in over 300 Bollywood films after his debut film in the 1973 film '' Daag'', starring Rajesh Khanna, in which he ...
in 41 films. Govinda and Khan were last seen together in ''
Deewana Main Deewana ''Deewana Main Deewana'' () is a 2013 Indian Hindi-language romantic thriller comedy film starring Govinda, Priyanka Chopra, Kader Khan, Prem Chopra, Johnny Lever and Shakti Kapoor directed by K. C. Bokadia. The film was released worldwide on 1 ...
'', which was released almost 10 years after it was filmed. Govinda and
Johnny Lever Johnny Lever (born John Prakash Rao Janumala; 14 August 1957) is an Indian actor and popular comedian who is known for his works in Hindi cinema. He is one of the first stand-up comedians in India. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, in ...
have appeared in 22 films, with Lever primarily playing comic roles. Govinda has made 14 films with
Satish Kaushik Satish Chandra Kaushik (born 13 April 1956) is an Indian actor, director, producer, comedian and screenwriter. Early life Satish was born on 13 April 1956 in Mahendragarh, Haryana. He graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi in 1972. He is an ...
; they last appeared together in 2009's ''
Do Knot Disturb ''Do Knot Disturb'' is a 2009 Indian comedy film directed by David Dhawan. The film is a remake of the 2006 French film ''The Valet'' (French: ''La Doublure''). The film stars Govinda, Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta, Sushmita Sen, Ranvir Shorey, Soh ...
''. Govinda has made 14 films with Paresh Rawal.


Music career and collaborations

Govinda has worked with music directors
Anand Milind Anand may refer to: People * Anand (name), a surname and given name (including a list of people with the name) * Anand (actor), Indian actor * Anand (Maoist), Indian communist * Anand (writer) (born 1936), Indian Malayalam writer Places * Anand ...
and
Anand Raj Anand Anand Raaj Anand is an Indian composer, lyricist and playback singer in the Hindi film industry. He was nominated for the Best Music Director Filmfare Award for ''Kaante'' (2003). Early life Anand Raj was born on 8 November 1961 in Delhi in ...
and playback singer
Udit Narayan Udit is an Indian masculine given name that may refer to: * Udit Narayan, Bollywood playback singer * Udit Narayan (politician) (born 1960), Fijian politician of Indian descent * Udit Narayan Singh (1770–1835), Indian monarch * Udit Patel (born ...
. Narayan has sung more than 100 songs for Govinda in more than 50 films, the greatest number of films and songs he has sung for a particular actor. Other singers associated with Govinda include
Kishore Kumar Kishore Kumar (born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly (); 4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987) was an Indian playback singer and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest, most influential and dynamic singers in the history of Indian music. He ...
,
Amit Kumar Amit Kumar (born 3 July 1952) is an Indian playback singer, actor, music composer. Kumar launched his own music production company, named Kumar Brothers Music. He predominantly worked in Bollywood and regional film songs since the 1970s, inc ...
,
Kumar Sanu Kedarnath Bhattacharya (born 20 October 1957), better known as Kumar Sanu, is an Indian playback singer. He is known as the King of Melody in Bollywood. He is famous for singing thousands of Bollywood Hindi songs. Apart from Hindi, he has al ...
,
Vinod Rathod Vinod Rathod (born 12 September 1962) is an Indian playback singer who primarily sings in Bollywood films. Rathod is the son of late classical musician, Pandit Chaturbhuj Rathod. Music career His career started when Usha Khanna after listeni ...
,
Abhijeet Bhattacharya Abhijeet Bhattacharya (born 30 October 1958), better known as Abhijeet, is a Bollywood playback singer. Abhijeet has sung 6034 songs in over 1000 films. Personal life Abhijeet was born to a Kanpur-based Bengali businessman turned editor Dhir ...
and
Sonu Nigam Sonu Nigam (born 30 July 1973) is an Indian singer, music director and actor. He has been described in the media as one of the most popular and successful playback singers of Hindi Cinema and Kannada Cinema. He has been honoured by the Governme ...
. Also, his elder brother Kirti Kumar has sung 2 songs for him. In the film ''
Farz Ki Jung ''Farz Ki Jung'' is a 1989 Indian Bollywood action film directed by R.P. Swamy and produced by Dalwinder Sohal. It stars Govinda, Shashi Kapoor, Amrish Puri and Neelam in pivotal roles. Plot Honest, hardworking, and diligent Police Inspector ...
'' (1989) there was a popular song "Phool Ka Shabab Kya, Husn Mahatab Kya..." which was sung by Late Mohammed Rafi picturized on Govinda. His first album, ''Govinda'', was released in 1998. In November 2013 Govinda released his second album, ''Gori Tere Naina'', with actress
Pooja Bose Puja Banerjee (born 6 February 1987), sometimes credited as Pooja Bose, is an Indian actress who appears predominantly in Bengali films and Hindi television. She is well known for playing Vrinda in the show '' Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna'', wh ...
. Govinda also wrote lyrics. He is lyricist of "I Love You bol daal" song in
Haseena Maan Jaayegi ''Haseena Maan Jaayegi'' () is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by David Dhawan. It stars Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Karisma Kapoor and Pooja Batra, with Anupam Kher, Kader Khan, Aruna Irani, and Paresh Rawal in supporting. The ...
(1999).


Filmography


Awards and nominations

In 1999, Govinda was voted the world's tenth-greatest star of stage or screen in a BBC News Online poll. In July 2016, he was recognised as Actor of the Decade at the India Leadership Conclave in Mumbai.Govinda and daughter Narmada awarded – Entertainment
Mid-day.com (2 July 2016). Retrieved on 14 September 2018.
Govinda has received 12
Filmfare Award The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Hindi-language film industry of India.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were first introduced by th ...
nominations and 4
Zee Cine Awards The Zee Cine Award (ZCA) is an Indian awards ceremony for the Hindi film industry. They were instituted in November 1997 to award "Excellence in cinema - the democratic way". They were first held in Mumbai until 2004, when the ZCA went internat ...
. He has also received a Filmfare Awards for Best Performance in a Comic Role for ''
Haseena Maan Jayegi ''Hasina Maan Jayegi'' () is a 1968 Hindi film directed by Prakash Mehra. The film stars Shashi Kapoor, Babita, Ameeta, Yunus Parvez and Johnny Walker. The film's music, composed by Kalyanji Anandji, has songs which are quite memorable, with t ...
'' (1999) and a Filmfare Special Award for ''
Saajan Chale Sasural ''Saajan Chale Sasural'' () is a 1996 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film starring Govinda, Tabu, Karisma Kapoor, Kader Khan, and Satish Kaushik. It was directed by David Dhawan. It is a remake of the Telugu film ''Allari Mogudu'' (1992 ...
'' (1996).


References


External links

* *
Govinda
at
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Govinda 1963 births Living people 20th-century Indian male actors 21st-century Indian male actors Indian actor-politicians Indian male comedians Indian National Congress politicians Indian television presenters India MPs 2004–2009 Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra Male actors from Mumbai Male actors in Hindi cinema Politicians from Mumbai Punjabi people Sindhi people Filmfare Awards winners Zee Cine Awards winners