“Govinda, the versatile Indian actor, famed for his comedic brilliance, dance flair, and political role, graced over 165+ films with his vibrant presence.”
Born Name : Govind Arun Ahuja
Born : 21 December 1963 (age 60)
Place : Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Political party :
Indian National Congress (2004–2009)
Spouse :
Sunita Ahuja ( M. 1987)
Children : 02
Parent(s) :
Father : Arun Kumar Ahuja
Mother : Nirmala Devi
Relative :
Govinda family
Residence(s) :
Juhu, Mumbai, India
Occupation :
Actor : Producer
Politician : Dancer :Comedian
Years active :1986– Present
Nickname(s) :
Hero No. 1 : Raja babu
Emperor : Diamond : Chichi
About
Born on December 21, 1963, Govind Arun Ahuja, widely known as Govinda, is a former Indian actor, comedian, dancer, and politician. With a career spanning over 165 Hindi-language films, he earned fame for his slapstick performances and impressive dancing skills.
Govinda received 12 Filmfare Award nominations, clinching two Filmfare Special Awards and one for Best Comedian. In a BBC News Online poll in June 1999, he was ranked the tenth-greatest star of stage or screen in the last thousand years.
Starting as an action and dancing hero in the 1980s, Govinda found success with hits like “Ilzaam” (1986), “Love 86” (1986), “Hatya” (1988), “Jeete Hain Shaan Se” (1988), and “Hum” (1991). However, his career took a comedic turn in the 1990s, marked by memorable roles in “Shola Aur Shabnam” (1992) and the dual-role performance in “Aankhen” (1993).
This led to a series of commercially successful comedy films such as “Raja Babu” (1994), “Coolie No. 1” (1995), “Saajan Chale Sasural” (1996), “Hero No. 1” (1997), “Deewana Mastana” (1997), “Dulhe Raja” (1998), “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan” (1998), “Anari No.1” (1999), and “Haseena Maan Jayegi” (1999).
Despite facing setbacks with several unsuccessful films in the 2000s, Govinda made a comeback with hits like “Bhagam Bhag” (2006), “Partner” (2007), and “Holiday” (2014), where he took on supporting roles.
In 2015, he served as a judge on Season 2 of Zee TV’s reality show, Dance India Dance Super Moms, achieving the highest TRP for any reality-show opening episode at that time.
Govinda also had a stint in politics, serving as a Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2009. As a member of the Indian National Congress party, he represented the Mumbai North constituency of Maharashtra, defeating Ram Naik of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha elections of 2004.
Early Life and Background
Born on December 21, 1963, Govinda is the youngest among six siblings, born to former actor Aroon (Arun Kumar Ahuja) and singer-actress Nirmala Devi. Aroon Ahuja, originating from Gujranwala, Punjab (now in Pakistan), ventured into acting in Mumbai during the late 1930s, gaining recognition for his role in Mehboob Khan’s “Aurat” (1940). His acting tenure spanned from 1939 to 1954, with lead roles in 30 films.
Despite facing financial setbacks from an unsuccessful film venture, the family, initially residing in a Mumbai bungalow on Carter Road, later moved to Virar, a northern suburb, where Govinda was born. Affectionately nicknamed “Chi Chi,” a Punjabi term meaning “little finger,” Govinda’s early life was shaped by the rich legacy of his parents’ involvement in the Indian entertainment industry.
Acting career
1986–89: Debut and breakthrough
After earning a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Vartak College, Vasai, Govinda’s father suggested a film career. Inspired by “Disco Dancer” (1982), Govinda practiced rigorously, even creating a promotional VHS cassette. He landed roles in a fertilizer commercial and an Allwyn ad.
While auditioning for “Mahabharat” (1988), he received his first Bollywood offer. His lead debut came in “Tan-Badan” (1986) with Khushbu, directed by his uncle Anand. Shooting for “Love 86” began in June 1985, and both “Ilzaam” (1986) and “Love 86” proved commercial successes.
Between 1987 and 1989, Govinda showcased versatility in family dramas like “Khudgarz” (1987) and “Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani” (1988), as well as action and drama films like “Hatya” (1988), “Marte Dam Tak” (1987), “Jeete Hain Shaan Se” (1988), and “Jung Baaz” (1989). His collaboration with David Dhawan began with “Taaqatwar” (1989), and he also worked with Rajinikanth and Sridevi in “Gair Kanooni.”
1990–99: Commercial success with comedy films
In 1990, Govinda starred in Awaargi alongside Anil Kapoor and Meenakshi Sheshadri. Swarg and Maha-Sangram, featuring Vinod Khanna, Aditya Pancholi, and Madhuri Dixit, were also successful.
The following year, he appeared in the hit film Hum, alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikanth.
In 1992, Govinda featured in Zulm Ki Hukumat, an Indian rendition of The Godfather, and David Dhawan’s Shola Aur Shabnam with actress Divya Bharti.
His prosperous collaboration with Dhawan continued with Aankhen, the highest-grossing film of 1993. Together, they created numerous successful comedy films, including Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Banarasi Babu (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Hero No. 1 (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), and Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999).
Govinda showcased his singing talent in films like “Meri Pant Bhi Sexy” in Dulaara (1994) and “Gori Gori” in Shola Aur Shabnam. Directors, including Dhawan, frequently paired him with actresses like Karishma Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, and Raveena Tandon during this prolific decade.
2000–05: Slump and break from films
During the 2000s, Govinda declined roles in successful films like Taal, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, and Devdas. However, his career faced setbacks with a series of commercially unsuccessful films, except for Jodi No. 1 (2001).
Movies like Hadh Kar Di Aapne, Kyo Kii… Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta, and Ek Aur Ek Gyarah saw moderate success. He received Best Comedian nominations at the Filmfare Awards for Jodi No. 1, Kyo Kii… Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta, and Akhiyon Se Goli Maare (2002).
Govinda then ventured into politics, joining the Indian National Congress. In the 2004 general election, he triumphed, winning a parliamentary seat from Mumbai North by defeating five-time MP Ram Naik. Taking a break from films between 2003 and 2005, Govinda had no releases during this period. Some delayed films, like Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen and Ssukh (2005) and Sandwich (2006), produced by Govinda and directed by his brother Kirti Kumar, faced box-office failures.
2006–09: Comeback
In 2006, Govinda returned with the comedy Bhagam Bhag, co-starring Akshay Kumar and Lara Dutta, directed by Priyadarshan. It marked Govinda and Kumar’s first film together.
2007 saw Govinda in Nikhil Advani’s Salaam-e-Ishq, featuring an ensemble cast. Despite being a box office disappointment, Govinda’s performance as Raju, a taxi driver, received acclaim.
His second release that year was David Dhawan’s comedy Partner with Salman Khan, Lara Dutta, and Katrina Kaif. It achieved significant box office success, earning Govinda awards for Best Comedian at IIFA and Best Actor in a Supporting Role at Zee Cine Award.
In 2008, Govinda starred in Money Hai Toh Honey Hai, a box office failure, followed by the successful Chal Chala Chal. Salman Khan invited Dhawan and Govinda on his show, 10 Ka Dum, to celebrate the success of Partner.
The following year, Govinda portrayed a lawyer in the hit Life Partner, earning praise. Reuniting with Dhawan and Vashu Bhagnani for Do Knot Disturb in 2009, the film received positive reviews but failed to perform well at the box office.
2010– Present
In 2010, Govinda featured in Mani Ratnam’s Raavan with Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, playing a Forest Ministry employee. Denying rumors of his character being a contemporary Hanuman, Govinda’s performance in the minor role received praise.
2011 saw him in Naughty @ 40, an adult comedy by Jagmohan Mundhra. Despite negative reviews, Govinda’s performance was appreciated. He also appeared in Rajnish Thakur’s Loot and voiced Bajrangi in Nikhil Advani’s animated Delhi Safari.
In 2013, Govinda co-starred with Priyanka Chopra in Deewana Main Deewana, a box office failure made about ten years earlier. He made his Bengali debut in Samadhi, another box office failure.
2014 marked his appearance in A. R. Murugadoss’s Holiday and Yash Raj Film’s Kill Dil, receiving critical acclaim despite commercial outcomes. He played a superstar in Happy Ending with Saif Ali Khan.
In 2017, Govinda starred in his home production Aa Gaya Hero, portraying a cop. Later, he featured alongside Varun Sharma in FryDay in 2018. His 2019 theatrical release, Rangeela Raja, was critically and commercially unsuccessful.
He served as a judge in Zee Bangla’s Dance Bangla Dance.
Personal life
Govinda’s family includes brother Kirti Kumar (actor, producer, director, singer) and sister Kaamini Khanna (writer, music director, singer).
Introduced by uncle Anand Singh in Tan-Badan, Govinda’s sister-in-law, Sunita Munjal, secretly married him on March 11, 1987.
The couple has two children, Tina Ahuja and Yashvardhan. Tina debuted in Bollywood with Second Hand Husband (2015).
Govinda’s relatives in the Mumbai entertainment industry comprise six nephews (Vinay Anand, Krishna Abhishek, Aryan, Arjun Singh, Ragini Khanna, Amit Khanna) and two nieces (Aarti Singh and director Janmendra Kumar Ahuja).
On January 5, 1994, Govinda was seriously injured on his way to the shoot for Khuddar. Despite heavy bleeding, he continued working until midnight after seeking medical attention.
Political career
In 2004, Govinda joined the Indian National Congress, winning the Lok Sabha seat from Mumbai by a 50,000-vote margin over the five-term incumbent.
During the elections, he emphasized priorities in prawaas (transportation), swasthya (health), and gyaan (education). In transportation, he claimed 80% credit for the quadrupling of the Borivali-Virar section of the Western Railway zone. His efforts in health and education were acknowledged, with commitments from his “local area development fund” for anganwadis and addressing drinking-water issues in Vasai and Virar, though administrative approval faced delays.
Awards and nominations
- Film fare Awards:
- 12 nominations
- Best Performance in a Comic Role for “Haseena Maan Jayegi” (1999)
- Filmfare Special Award for “Saajan Chale Sasural” (1996)
- Zee Cine Awards:
- 4 nominations
- BBC News Online Poll (1999):
- Tenth-greatest star of stage or screen
- India Leadership Conclave (July 2016):
- Actor of the Decade
Govinda’s accolades span across Filmfare Awards, Zee Cine Awards, and recognition in international polls and leadership conclaves.
