Popularly called Chi-Chi in the industry, Govinda became an overnight sensation after his debut film, 'Love 86'.
You see, screen acting is very interesting - it can never be put into a particular box (read approach). It changes depending on the mood and style of a film and demands actors to adapt accordingly. Take Govinda's comedy-dramas from the late 80s and the 90s, and you'll realize that those simply couldn't have been done without him. Because more than their stories or music or technicalities, those films thrived on the lead actor. Of course, there was always a bunch of talented supporting actors; but he, himself, was the mood of the film, and carried the entire narrative on his shoulder. Whether it's his perfect comic timing, insane energy, or unbelievable dance moves, he brought something to the table that no one else could. Needless to say, it was his charisma that pulled crowds to theatres, and later kept us hooked to the television screens.
Born on December 21, 1963, Govinda made his Bollywood debut with 'Love 86' (1986) and emerged as a force to be reckoned with during the 90s. While he is not very active in showbiz today, the kind of craze that he had at that time remains unmatched.
The only Indian actor who is his own genre!
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) December 21, 2020
GOVINDA born on this day.
Happy Birthday @govindaahuja21 pic.twitter.com/sZmijNqnRZ
(Credit: Film History Pics)
As Govinda celebrates his 61st birthday today, let's learn an interesting fact that showcases the cultural phenomenon that he became in his early days!
Upon the theatrical release of his debut film, 'Love 86', Govinda emerged as an overnight sensation like none other. Thanks to his phenomenal performance in that film, he instantly became the top choice of almost every director and producer in the industry. As a result, he signed as many as 70 films at one time.
(Credit: govinda_herono1)
Well, he became so busy that he sometimes had to shoot as many as 5 films in one day. Still, he could not complete them all, and many were dropped due to his date issues.
Notably, he had over 40 releases in the first four years after his debut.
During an interview with ITMB Shows, the 'Hero No. 1' revealed, "I had 70 films at one time. Later on, 8-10 closed themselves, or maybe 5-6 did. Then 4-5 films I had to leave because of dates and scheduling."
Speaking about whether that high workload was an achievement, Govinda said, "It’s not an achievement. It just happens. I know that much that often it’s just someone’s time. The first release was Love 86, where I did romantic comedy and dance. In Ilzaam, my role was emotional. Then, ‘Pyaar Karke Dekho’ was released recently, and it had a buffoonery type of loud comedy. Next is Sindoor with Neelam, which is a total social film with family subject."
(Credit: mymovieverseofficial)
Govinda actually wanted to be a dancer and not an actor.
He was supposed to play the role of Abhimanyu in B. R. Chopra's 'Mahabharat'. However, he soon opted out after bagging his first Bollywood project.
The 90s superstar's success owes a lot to filmmaker David Dhawan. The two collaborated on several films that became blockbusters. The list includes 'Shola Aur Shabnam', 'Aankhen', 'Raja Babu', and 'Coolie No. 1' among others.
Well, if you watch Govinda's films critically, you may not like them. But those films had a charm of their own - clean comedy, lighthearted drama, and soulful vibes that would work well when watched with friends and family. Today, when our cinema is so full of action and violence, we need those films more than ever.
