It has been a while since Govinda appeared on the big screen, but, if the actor is to be believed, the year ahead looks promising. In an interview with ETimes, the actor discusses his work plans for the current year, and also opens up about what has kept him away from films for so long. Excerpts:

What is your plan for the year 2021?

It’s going to be like those good old days when I worked round the clock. I have heard many scripts and will be signing a few films. I might even produce some of them. This bad patch of 2020, that has just gone by, has affected not just me but the whole world too. Besides, the year has given us the opportunity to work on different platforms like OTT.

So, are you open to OTT?

Of course, I have heard 3-4 subjects and will soon be locking some of them.

Is it the banner or the subject that helps you decide on a film?

The subject is the hero. Today, the producers’ point-of-view and approach has also changed. They know that people want to see world-class cinema. 2021 is going to be the year of world cinema.


The audience really remembered you and your work at the end of 2020…

All I can say is that people always appreciate work that has been done honestly and therefore it is never wasted. It is very sad that people ridicule those who work hard and sincerely. 2020 gave people an opportunity to make time from their busy schedules and come to terms with reality.

Do you think the remake of ‘Coolie No 1’ was a mistake?

You will never see me speaking against others. While others often like to talk about me, I never talk about their work or judge it because I respect everybody’s hard work and money invested. In the last 14-15 years, I have invested money and lost around Rs 16 crore. I was treated badly by some people from the fraternity too. My films didn’t get theatres and they wanted to demolish my career, which didn’t happen. Now, I am ready to kick-start 2021 in a big way.

Are you insinuating that a conspiracy was hatched against you?

Yes, of course it was. As they say,
apne bhi paraye ho jaate hain. If fate is not on your side, then your own people also turn against you.

Were you get upset about it?

I don’t give importance to such people. You should not waste your positive energy on negative things; it’s not worth it.

But you have received so much affection from the audience…

I am so lucky and it’s all because of my mom.
Maine samay ko kisi vyakti vishesh mein bandha nahin (I have never quantified my time according to the people surrounding me). They weren’t important to me. There are a number of rich people but they should know that nature will destroy them. I don’t want to be a party to it. There have been several such examples and they have seen it in their own family.

What’s next?

I plan to give opportunities to the lower strata of aspiring artistes, who want to work in this industry with respect and don’t want to indulge in unethical things. I will help them through my company and would like big companies to invest in this project of mine. At this age, I cannot go through the rigmarole, but I would like to give back to society by giving a chance to newcomers. I want to eliminate the difficulties that they have to go through, created by the big names in the industry. I am no longer in the age bracket to struggle again; now is the time for me to give back to people so that they are able to navigate the present scenario.


Are you talking about nepotism?

I am talking about everything. I am talking about my own past. I have nothing to say about today’s situation. What people are saying today, I have been saying that for several years. There is no point discussing that now.

But you have made a place for yourself…

It did not take a year or two. I have been fighting this battle for 20 years and some people have maligned my name but I ignored them. This is how one should behave with them instead of wasting your time fighting as then you will not be able to work.

Did you get depressed because of what happened to you?

Not at all. An elephant keeps walking while dogs bark at him, till he walks out of the lane. They are scared you will conquer their world.

What is that one piece of advice you give your children Tina and Yashvardhan?

They should wait for their time with grace and respect, but, at the same time, continue to do their work. Maybe I can become the person who provides them with a platform, and they may not need any big name to give them the chance. You know, during the lockdown, I remembered complaining to my mother that I was feeding 40 people and was not able to save money and make investments. But she told me just one thing, “I don’t care. Why don’t you ask God?” She advised me to go beyond family and relatives and help as many people as possible. People laugh at my lifestyle; they find it surprising that I don’t have a lot of servants in my house and I cook myself. I feel that
aapka bhagya hi aapke virodh ka mool karan hota hai (Your fate is the reason for your adversities)
. No other person can come in the way of your ability.

You are getting more spiritual…

No, it is the opposite; I have become more corrupt and bitter. These days, I party, smoke, and also drink. The old Govinda was very pious. Earlier, my emotional nature came in the way of my work but today, I don’t get emotional. I deal with situations more practically and business-like.

But work has come to you and you have refused…

This is a new rumour that has started doing the rounds. They, in fact, conspire by offering me films that I would not like–ones with sex and violence. If you want to make a film that has a lot of sex, why not make porn films? I also know there was a discussion in one of the offices to give Govinda 15 scenes and two songs and then later make him Bhagwan Dada by giving him just songs, and thereafter make him a junior artiste. But I did not let them succeed.
Maine band baja di (I gave it right back)
. I came back playing the hero and also produced the film. However, it is a different story altogether that my film did not get a platform.

But ‘Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho’ was offered to you by Mahesh Manjrekar and Salman Khan and you had turned it down…

I would not like to comment on it.


You were also offered a lot of money when you didn’t have money in your account…

There was a film producer, who had given me a cheque for Rs 50 lakh cheque when I didn’t have Rs 5 lakh in my account. But I didn’t like the subject, so, I returned the cheque.

Why does Krushna Abhishek make fun of you on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’?

I really don’t know who is making him do it, otherwise, he is a good boy. Not only does he make fun but by doing it, he is spoiling my image. Whoever is behind it, we are seeing him do it. See, I have been a victim of nepotism and it was around the time I stopped getting work. I saw Amitabh Bachchan struggle too; he would come on stage and people from the industry would walk away. Don’t know if I got punished for supporting him. They set him free but caught me instead.