Imagine being a superstar, known for your charismatic dance moves and comedic timing, but also infamous for being late to set. That was the life of Govinda, a household name in the 90s. His nephew, actor Vinay Anand, recently shared some insight into Govinda’s punctuality issues, which he believes contributed to his downfall in the 2000s.
According to Vinay, as long as Govinda was churning out hit films, no one bothered about his tardiness. But when his movies started flopping, people began to criticize him. Vinay recalled an incident where a filmmaker punished Govinda by making him stand in the pouring rain for being late. This, Vinay believes, had a lasting impact on Govinda.
The film industry, Vinay says, is a place where success can make people overlook your flaws. But when you’re no longer delivering hits, the same flaws become major issues. “Until his films were doing well, nobody said anything,” Vinay said in a recent interview. “But when one or two films flopped, people started making wild claims.”
Vinay also pointed out that many stars in the industry don’t arrive on time, and they always inform their directors beforehand. “Except for Akshay Kumar, all the other stars come at their convenience,” he said. “They talk to their directors and come at their own pace.”
As for Govinda’s tardiness, Vinay thinks there might be reasons behind it. “You never know, maybe he made some mistakes or hurt someone,” he said. The punishment he received from the filmmaker, however, still lingers in Vinay’s mind. “When he was starting out, there was a filmmaker who made him stand in the rain as punishment for being late,” Vinay recalled. “I think that hurt him.”
This incident, Vinay believes, contributed to Govinda’s reputation for being late. Producer Vashu Bhagnani also shared a similar story in a previous interview, where Govinda kept a team of 75 people waiting for three days in Switzerland during the filming of “Hero No. 1”. Vashu had to call Govinda to ask if he was ever going to show up.
It’s clear that Govinda’s punctuality issues have been a topic of discussion in the industry for a while. While he may have been forgiven when his films were doing well, the same issues were magnified when his career slowed down. As Vinay pointed out, the film industry can be harsh, and success can be fleeting. But it’s also a place where talent and hard work can take you to the top, and Govinda’s story serves as a reminder of that.