"I am a selfish artist, I enjoy watching myself" - Govinda

By IndiaFM News Bureau, August 4, 2007 - 14:48 IST

Ek Mulaqat is a weekly chat show presented by BBC Hindi India Editor, Sanjeev Srivastava. The programme brings lively and informative interviews with some of India's most famous people, including politicians, artists, sports personalities and Bollywood stars.

Below are excerpts from Govinda's interview on BBC Ek Mulaqat to be broadcast on Radio One 94.3 FM this Sunday [5 August 2007]

On BBC Ek Mulaqat, our guest today is someone who has won our hearts for many years with his dancing, acting and comedy. Now he is proving his skills in politics. We have with us Govinda

You know we were waiting for a long time for a chance to met you and rag you.
I'm a bit cautious now that you've said 'ragging', but thank you for honouring me so much.

You've acted in about 100 films. How has this long journey been for you so far?
I consider it a blessing - my parent's blessing, my elder's blessing, my grandparent's blessing, and specially the blessing of that house which gave my whole family a chance to work in this field. If I start thanking, the list will be very long. People have been very kind. I'm still learning and the journey is on.

For a long time, you have been referred to as 'the boy from Virar'.Do you like that or feel that it's enough now?
Some things get attached to you and somehow they are kept alive too. This tag of 'the boy from Virar' was said very fondly. My father used to say that at least thanks to this you will remain a 'boy' even in your old age. I believe that there's a reason behind every thing that is attached to you. You must understand that reason and keep moving on in life.

I think the reason behind this phrase must have been to say how far you have come.
You say that out of the goodness of your heart. Everything has a reason. In what sense a certain thing was said and what comes of it also matters. Talk is just talk. Sometimes it has something to do with actions and sometimes not.

I didn't think my words had such a deep meaning.
So far I've been taking this phrase very casually.

Tell us about the early days of your career - how did you struggle in the industry? Of course, your first film itself was a hit.
Our struggle went of many years. My father used to be a hero in films. Mehboob Khan sahib gave him a break. My mother used to be a classical singer but there was a phase when my family was in trouble. Being from an artist family we were alright in terms of culture and society. When I saw my mother working I thought that I should also work. I started thinking of working at the age of 13 and that's when my struggle began. I started going to producers for work at the age of 14-15. They would say - you're too young, if there's any work for you we'll let you know. I used to go and sit at Rajshree Productions and Shantaram-ji's office. But I finally got work at the age of 21 when I had completed my B.Com. I had come to live with my uncle Uday Narayan Singh-ji. Ravi Chopra-ji gave me my first break. I met him through Gufi Paintal-ji. A person called Avinash took me to Ravi Chopra-ji and I worked for a clock brand called 'Allwyn'. My first cheque was for 4000 or 4500. I bought my mother a saree and some boxes of sweets with the money.

After becoming an MP, I started my work with the local train only. I have a long association with local trains. I was returning on the local train when I met a sadhu. He asked me - is your name Govinda and have you got some work today? I thought he must be a well-connected man; the news has already reached him. But then he said - you are going to your mother. I asked him how he knew all this. He said that my good time was about to begin and that I will meet many gurus in different fields and I should always respect them. Saying this he got off at the next station. I reached home and handed the cheque to my mother.

The first time I sat in a plane, I felt very weird, because we used to live in a village and run after all the vehicles that used to come into the village. And if a plane would fly over our village, we would watch it for a long time and then discuss it at length. Then we started shooting in Kashmir and the whole cycle of work began. My first film that released was Tan Badan, then Love 86 and then Jhoota Ilzaam. Love 86 was the first film I signed. And it's been on since then - Love 86 too happens sometimes, so does Jhoota Ilzaam!

Now it's Love 2007 that's on. Tell us a song of your choice.
The song 'Fikr ko dhooen mein udata chala gaya' from dev Anand-ji's film Hum Dono. This song has a certain carefree attitude, a little romance, a little spiritualism, and the capacity that a man has to fight the battles within one's character. I like the music very much.

  'Fikr ko dhooen mein udata chala gaya' has a certain carefree attitude, a little romance, a little spiritualism

The way films used to be classified as art films or Manmohan Desai type films, there was a time when films used to be called Govinda-type films. How do you feel hearing this?
I did many serious type films at a very young age, and so I became sort of tired. Actually, characters used to influence me because I used to immerse myself in my work. I saw an interview of Dilip Uncle's [Dilip Kumar] where a doctor told him to do comedy films so that he would keep in good health. Then I did a film called Intezaar with him. My mother said that if you get a chance to press his feet, you must do so. I met him in his room and chatted with him. In totality I understood that the work you do shows its effects on your personality. I did comedy films and enjoyed my work very much. That work created an image and now I'm in that image. Sometimes I like it and sometimes it causes problems. The artist in me is trapped in this image and struggling. But all said and done, I'm happy with this image. Now every one has entered this genre and is trying their hand at comedy.

Looking at you, I also feel that this isn't just about acting. Your personality itself is happy-go-lucky. People say that Govinda is known for his timing. Was it like this always or did you have to work hard at it?
I achieved everything with hard work. I wasn't always a dancer. I saw a John Travolta film called Saturday Night Fever and started learning to dance. I used to get broken tape recorders and I would play around with them and practice dancing. Then I started learning. Ram Master-ji taught me action without charging me anything. Saroj-ji didn't take a dance fee, and Roshan Taneja didn't charge me any fee for learning acting. I was very committed, so they must have thought that a new enthusiast has come and wants to passionately immerse himself in the art. I also tried to keep that intact. The way property is lost, the same way the environment around you tries to drain your moral fibre. Preserving that is a disciplined act and I kept that in mind. 

I wasn't always a dancer. I saw a John Travolta film called Saturday Night Fever

An other song of your choice?
The song 'Haathon ki chand lakeeron ka, main aashique hoon takdeeron ka' from the film 'Vidhata'. In this song, Dilip Uncle answers 'Taqdeer hai kya main kya jaanoon, main aashique hoon tadbeeron ka'. This song was also filmed on a train and I like it very much.

When you started going around asking for work, who was the person who believed in you?
I think a man has the will to work, and a way of behaving lovingly, which I had in me. Perhaps that's why every one supported me. There were very few people who didn't support me, and I can count them on my fingers.

Tell us their names.
No. They also gave me energy. Every obstacle gave me energy and I am thankful to them. I went through a phase when every one wanted only to help me. Maybe it was because of my uncle Uday Narayan-ji. I used to get five rupees from his place every morning, and I used to set out with that every day. Those days you got tea for 95paise and I

New Leaf

Namita Nivas
Posted online: Friday, December 22, 2006 at 0000 hours IST

With Bhagam Bhag, Govinda returns to do what he is best at raising laughs. He’s been a riot in all his earlier comedies and now in his second innings, the actor-turned-MP has accepted the big change the industry has gone through during his low phase ...

Bhagam Bhag is your comeback vehicle, considering you have been away from showbiz too long to concentrate on politics.
It is God’s blessings that I am here again. Main woh sitara hoon jo paanch saal baadalon ke peeche tha (laughs). Salman Khan, Suniel Shetty, Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan and the entire team of Bhagam Bhag are responsible for bringing me back to my first love, acting. We are all a family and they were all kind enough to give me my space here.

Was it easy or did you find drastic changes?
(laughs) Not really. But I was lucky that there were no pressures or demands from me. I could do a good job, the credit for which goes to the entire industry. Moreover, one has to change with the times.

For an actor, how satisfactory was it being in politcs?
I joined politics out of my own will and did some work that was very fulfilling to me as a person. In this field, one gets to meet different types of people and one has to learn to handle things tactfully. But it is only human to make mistakes. I have had to face some harsh realities but now it is time to repay those who have stood beside me in my times of crisis. Recently Subodhkant Sahay, Union Minister for Food & Processing Industries, announced my name as the official Brand Ambassador of the Bhojpuri Film Awards (BFA). So it is my duty to help the Bhojpuri film industry flourish in whatever capacity possible.

Coming to Bhagam Bhag, isn’t it true you replaced Suniel Shetty in the film?
Yes, I wasn’t the first choice for this role in Bhagam Bhag. Since the film is being made under the banner of Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision Ltd’s and Suniel’s Popcorn Entertainment, when he could not do the role, he offered it to me. I am someone who has never taken any help from anyone but I thought when God has given me a second chance, I have to be grateful and accept it gracefully.

I have always believed in ‘looking at negative things with a positive outlook’. I know this very well because in politics, each step taken is dangerous as people want to attack you at every single opportunity. I would never let anyone walk over me: the more you learn from your mistakes the better person you become.

Coming from David Dhawan’s camp, you must have found Priyadarshan’s school of acting very different. Both are poles apart. oth make comedies but they have their own genre and style. They have very different ideologies when it comes to making comedy films. While I have had 16 hits with David in my 20-year old career, Bhagam Bhag is my first film with Priyan.

So what was your experience with the director?
The first few days on the sets of Bhagam Bhag were very difficult for me as I could not understand what Priyan wanted from me. It took me three to four days to understand him and get into the flow. After close observation, I grasped his style of work. It was slow but gradually I developed confidence in his style and managed to give what he wanted. From then on, it was easy. I feel the hesitation was because I was under pressure of being an MP. Of course that is not an excuse for a pro actor who became a politician much, much later. Lekin meri duniya change ho gayi thi.

Do you feel David’s style has changed with the time?
His outlook, shooting style and presentation is exactly the same even today though he’s trying to gather and follow the pattern that is required today. He has managed to acknowledge, accept and balance both yesterday’s method and today’s technique in his stride and adjust with the times. Woh bahut samajdaar aadmi hain.

You are doing Partner with him next. Will we see the old Govinda-David magic again?
David will bring forth a new Govinda in Partner. Though the film is about the struggle a person goes through, it has been handled in a different way. It is a very refreshing subject.

Is comedy your karma?
You could say so. Clowning or imitating someone is very difficult - even the best of them may not be perfect if the timing is not right. Do you know that Charlie Chaplin, the king of comedy, has been kicked the maximum number of times by his co-stars and in his speech once, he said, “Every kick took me one step ahead”. I just want to follow his philosophy. I believe that if people laugh and enjoy inside the theatres, it is like a battle won.

How was it working with Akshay Kumar in Bhagam Bhag? It is your first film with him.
Akshay is fabulous. With time, he has proved himself and has become a wonderful actor. His hard work has paid him great dividends. In fact I enjoyed working with all the actors in Bhagam Bhag. I share a good rapport with them now.

You are also acting with Salman Khan for the first time in Salaam-E-Ishq.
Salman has been an easy star to work with and we have developed a good rapport now.

What do you have to say about the young director?
Nikhil Advani can be the next Ramesh Sippy. It is a very tough job to handle six different stories in one film but he has done it brilliantly. The film is slated for release in January 2007.

What was your experience doing Salaam-E-Ishq?
Since the film is about six couples, it was not easy to do it.

How was it to have a foreign actress opposite you for the first time?
Shannon Esrechowitz is a marvelous artiste; very stunning, sensational and with a quick grasping power. She hated giving more then three takes and if she did not get her act right within that time, she would burst into tears saying “I am a professional, how can I go wrong? I have to do my best”. When I told her that there are times when we give more than 10-12 takes, she was shocked and said, “In Africa, we have to get our act right instantly as we make small-budget films and cannot afford to waste money.” Shannon taught me the value of time.

Is that why Govinda, who is famous for his unpunctuality, is now commended for being on time?
Yes. I have now realised the importance of time. And reaching on time anywhere makes a lot of difference and because of your own sincerity, others respect you. Now I have begun to value my time and put in 14 hours of work. Ab mujhe isska nasha ho gaya hain.

You have never shirked from starring in multi-star films, including Bhagam Bhag and Salaam-E-Ishq .
That’s right. And like Bhagam Bhag, Salaam-E-Ishq too has shaped up very well. Multi-star films are fun. After these films, I think things are going to work for me as both had ample scope for performances.

You have been in the industry for quite a long time. What do you have to say about the present state of affairs?
I would say I am fortunate to be a part of the industry that is united, understanding and affectionate. Here everyone is a friend who looks after each other in times of happiness as well as crisis. I foresee a very strong tomorrow for our Hindi film industry.

And what do you think of the new generation of actors?
I feel they are all sincere, qualified, mature and truthful. They work too hard and it is a good thing for cinema. See what a revolution Krrish and Dhoom 2 has brought in. It is a good beginning and we can expect some very good films from India and now we can really compete with International films.

Will we get to see more of Govinda now that you have put on your working shoes again?
Definitely. I have some good films coming; after Salaam-E-Ishq and Partner, there is Priyan’s Chal Chala Chal.

Lately, your pal Sanjay Dutt has been in the news. Do you support him?
Of course. God had done justice to Sanju. His family has faced a lot of trials and tribulations and thankfully it has now been cleared of a huge burden. The way Sanju has