Govinda: From beloved star to a diminished presence

Govinda started his successful career in 1986 and quickly became a popular actor. A BBC online poll named him one of the greatest stars of all time, alongside Amitabh Bachchan and others. He was a fashion trendsetter, known for his unique style. Remember his purple-pink kurta in ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ and colorful printed shirts? His fashion choices included chunky belts and stylish watches. Govinda wasn’t afraid to experiment with bright colors like yellow, violet, and red, setting trends that defined his era.
Govinda broke boundaries with his roles, especially with his comic style. A great example is his performance as a woman in ‘Aunty No. 1’ (1998). He brought charm to every genre, whether it was action, dance, or comedy. During the filming of ‘Hum’ (1991) with Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth, fans flocked to see Govinda and ignored the other two stars. This showed just how popular he was at the time.
In 1986, Govinda made his film debut and starred in five movies. The next year, he appeared in six films, and by 1988, he had increased his number to ten films. His peak came in 1989, with fourteen releases. Throughout the ’90s, he worked with director David Dhawan, starting with the 1993 film ‘Aankhen.’ Together, they made 18 films, many of which were big hits. However, producer Pahlaj Nihalani said that working with Govinda became risky due to his growing superstitions. In an interview with Friday Talkies, he explained that Govinda would make strange requests based on his beliefs, like moving away from a chandelier as he thought it might fall or predicting that Kader Khan would drown. These behaviors and his tendency to be late contributed to a decline in his career.
Govinda’s inability to adapt to changing times hurt his career. In the 2000s, audiences began favoring more nuanced films like ‘Dil Chahta Hai,’ while he continued making formulaic comedies like ‘Raja Bhaiya’ and ‘Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen,’ which didn’t connect with viewers. As his contemporaries reinvented themselves with fitness and diverse roles, Govinda stayed the same. Although he had some hits like ‘Bhagam Bhag’ and ‘Partner,’ they weren’t enough to bring back his stardom. Over time, roles became scarce, and he hasn’t appeared in any films since his 2019 project ‘Rangeela Raja,’ which was a big flop. At the height of his fame, Govinda also turned down offers for major films like ‘Taal’ and ‘Devdas’ because he didn’t want to play character roles. His unwillingness to change ultimately contributed to his decline.

Later in his career, Govinda took on supporting roles in films like ‘Kill Dill’ and ‘Happy Ending/’ However, these films did not revive his stardom. He also ventured into politics as a Member of Parliament for the Indian National Congress, but that didn’t help his career either. Now, Govinda is making a comeback with three new movies: ‘Bayen Haath Ka Khel,’ ‘Pinky Darling,’ and ‘Len Den: It’s All About Business.’