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Bollywood aficionados will unanimously agree, no one can come close to Govinda when it comes to the comedy genre. Ruling the 90s and early 2000s with mega hits like Coolie No. 1, Raja Babu, Hero No. 1, and Haseena Maan Jaayegi, just to name a few, the 60-year-old actor was celebrated as a true blue superstar.
However, there was a time when the actor rejected many big-ticket projects, which went on to become blockbusters as well as catapult the careers of actors like Anil Kapoor. In many instances, Govinda has confessed various reasons why he rejected these films and a renowned TV show.
Here are 4 movies & a TV show rejected by Govinda:
The actor was offered the role of Chunnilal in Devdas, which eventually fell into the lap of Jackie Shroff. In an interview with India TV, according to India Today, Govinda shared the reason why he rejected Devdas. According to the actor, he was “a superstar” at the time and he wondered why Sanjay Leela Bhansali would offer him a “character role” instead. Govinda did mention though that he loves Shah Rukh Khan and that he’s a nice person, while also noting how they haven’t worked together.
Before Sunny Deol headlined Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Govinda was reportedly the first choice to play Tara Singh. However, he turned down the offer. The reason, according to the actor, was because there were “a lot of swear words.” Sunny Deol eventually went to headline the movie, which went on to become a blockbuster film.
One of the standout roles of Anil Kapoor remains his supporting stint as Vikrant Kapoor in Taal. But did you know that before Kapoor, it was his Deewana Mastana co-star Govinda who was offered the part opposite Aishwarya Rai Bachchan? According to the Times of India, Govinda turned down the offer due to scheduling conflicts and differences over remuneration. During the 23rd anniversary of Taal, Anil had revealed in an Instagram post of how his iconic role was first offered to Govinda. Interestingly, Danny Boyle saw Kapoor’s performance in Taal, which made Boyle offer Kapoor a role in Slumdog Millionaire.
Another blockbuster movie that Govinda rejected was Yash Chopra’s Chandni. He was reportedly offered the role of Rohit Gupta opposite Sridevi. According to DNA India, Govinda rejected the movie because the character was wheelchair-bound. Eventually, the role was played by the late Rishi Kapoor, and the rest is history.
It’s not just movies, Govinda has also rejected an iconic series, which went on to become one of the most highly watched shows in India. It was B. R. Chopra’s Mahabharat (1988-1990). The actor was offered the role of Abhimanyu. However, around the same time, Govinda’s maternal uncle Anand Singh began working on Tan-Badan, which turned out to be his movie debut. Ultimately, he turned down the offer to work in Mahabharat, with Mayur Verma eventually portraying Abhimanyu.
