Imagine a superstar who has a dream debut. His first film is a massive success, and as a result, offers pour in from every corner of the film industry. This star signs dozens of movies in one go and even keeps his marriage a secret for the sake of his image. But as his career progresses, things take a drastic turn when he starts rejecting numerous film offers, eventually leaving him without work for years. This is the story of Govinda—an enigma who once reigned supreme but now has no films in the last five years.
Govinda, the superstar with a secret marriage and a record-breaking film signing spree, made a stunning debut with “Love 86” in 1986. The movie’s massive success acted as a catalyst, catapulting him to instant stardom. In an old interview from 1987, Govinda disclosed that he had signed as many as 70 films within a matter of weeks following his debut. Speaking to ITMB Shows, he was asked to confirm the rumor that he had signed several films after his debut success. Govinda admitted, “I had 70 films”.
He went on to explain that although he had 70 films in his kitty at one point, many of these projects never saw the light of day. “Later on, 8-10 closed themselves, or maybe 5-6 did. Then 4-5 films I had to leave because of dates and scheduling,” he elaborated. This overwhelming number of commitments showcased his immense popularity and the industry’s eagerness to capitalize on his newfound fame.
Amidst this professional whirlwind, Govinda also managed to balance his personal life. In 1987, just a year after his stellar debut, Govinda got married to Sunita at the age of 24. However, he chose to keep this significant milestone a secret from the press and his adoring fans. On the chat show Rendezvous With Simi Garewal, Govinda shared the reasons for this secrecy. “People had scared me that my girls write me love letters and love me so much, I would lose my image and my fan following,” he confessed. It was only in 1989, after the birth of his daughter, that Govinda finally revealed his ‘secret’ marriage to the world.
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The 90s were a golden era for Govinda. He became synonymous with box-office success, delivering numerous hits and establishing his mark as an indomitable force in Bollywood. However, the dawn of the 2000s painted a different picture. His career graph took a downturn, exacerbated by his decision to reject several film offers that later turned out to be huge successes. One of the most notable rejections was the role in “Devdas,” which eventually went to Jackie Shroff, helping him make a memorable comeback as a character actor. Additionally, Govinda claims to have turned down a role in James Cameron’s “Avatar,” a film that held the title of the highest-grossing movie globally for an extended period.
Govinda’s last notable box office success was “Partner” in 2007. Following this, he appeared in multiple big-budget movies over the next decade but failed to recreate the magic of his earlier years. Although his performances in films like “Kill Dil” earned critical acclaim, they did little to enhance his standing at the box office. His most recent appearance on the silver screen was in 2019 with the film “Rangeela Raja,” which unfortunately didn’t make significant waves.
In addition to his film career, Govinda also ventured into politics. He successfully contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai as a Congress candidate. However, despite his initial political success, he resigned as an MP in 2008, stepping down from politics after experiencing a brief career revival post-“Partner.” Earlier this year, Govinda made headlines again by returning to the political arena as he joined Shiv Sena right before the Lok Sabha elections.
Despite his current absence from the film industry, Govinda’s legacy remains intact. His journey from a record-breaking debut to the numerous ups and downs of his career serves as a poignant narrative of the volatile nature of the entertainment world. Fans continue to hope for a comeback, reflecting on the indelible mark Govinda has left on Bollywood.
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