Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; November 24, 2018)

His last release FryDay may not have fared well at the box-office but Govinda is supremely confident about his next release Rangeela Raja. Not only is it touted to be a massy entertainer, a genre the Hero No 1 actor excels in, but it also reunites him with his Aankhen (1993) producer Pahlaj Nihalani after 25 years. When we catch up with the actor at his residence, he looks upbeat and cheerful. His film is currently embroiled in a controversy with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and the release date has gone haywire, but Govinda is unperturbed. With his innate sense of humour, he takes on the Censor chief, and simultaneously takes digs at his director. Here, the actor talks about his upcoming film, making a career out of South remakes and more...     

Rangeela Raja has been given 20 cuts by the CBFC. What is your take on it?
What happens is, when they feel something has the potential to be a hit, woh rok laga dete hai. I have seen films released in the last 10 years or for that matter even the last 30 years having much more controversial content than Rangeela Raja. I think this is a clear case of double standards. It can’t be about what you (censor) think or how it should be. You have to see what is happening in the society. I understand that if there’s a villain and the negativity in terms of language is too much, then woh maa-behen ki galiyan nahin dega. Brutal murders will not be shown. There won’t be lengthy smooching scenes. But apart from that, if he has to show he is wrong, explain how he should do it? I had told Pahlaj ji if you are taking on this subject, show the negative aspect the way it is. If the character is using abusive language, let him, as it will look contemporary. The film will get an ‘A’ certificate and at least that section of the audience will come in large numbers. But Pahlaj ji didn’t do that. He said, ‘My films are not like that, mujhe accha nahin lagta’.

Please continue...
I am amused that despite all that unka yeh haal hua (laughs). Which means being the former chairperson (of the CBFC) woh apeksha kar rahe the. He had a feeling ki mere saath aisa dhokha hoga. He was making the film with decency, but still got betrayed. Nowadays, everything is so personal. People talk and attack personally. 

What is the film about?
It is about how in every household there are some people who are colourful by nature and because of them, the family members get into a situation. It is inspired by a South movie that was made around 30-33 years ago. It was directed by K Balachander and starred Rajinikanth. I don’t remember the name, but it was a superhit film of those times. I have done so many South remakes like Raja Babu, Aankhen, Shola Aur Shabnam and Haseena Maan Jayegi. I had followed Jeetendra ji’s idea of remaking South cinema. He would buy the rights, but I would get inspired by the thought and make it in our way. They would become successful. South remakes have proved lucky for me.

The Rajinkanth-starrer is nearly three decades old, have you contemporarised it in any way?
Some thoughts don’t get old or die... like a person mistakenly thinking that whatever he is doing is right. This has been there since the time of Lord Indra, who was a colourful personality and used to trouble the Gods. He felt that since he is the Lord of Gods, he can do no wrong. In Rangeela Raja, it is something similar. When things are explained to him, he changes to some extent within the framework of his character, which I think is the novelty of the film. We are not trying to convince that everything is fine, a concept which is very today.

About your last release FryDay, you said that it wasn’t given enough theatres and that your movies are being targeted. Why do you feel that?
I said it because it’s true and I don’t want to discuss that.

What are your expectations from Rangeela Raja?
It will do great business. It is a massy entertainer and there is no hindrance to it because Pahlaj ji is a distributor himself. Reach ki problem nahin hogi. Yes, it might get delayed a bit and if they are stubborn it will get an ‘A’ rating.

Earlier in your career, some of your songs like Sarkaile Khatiya (Raja Babu) had run into trouble...
Nahin, ussmein jo thoda sa bindaas tha, ‘U’ certificate ke saath chhod diya (laughs). In fact, I was taking objection during the shoot. David (Dhawan) told me, ‘Sadhu ka chola pehenkar baahar nikal jao, film line mein nahin chalega’. So, I gave the shot and thought yeh cut jayega, par aisa nahin hua (laughs).

But there was a controversy...
Yes, people didn’t let me enjoy the success (laughs).

Don’t you think it’s time for a reinvention?
I have already done it. If you watch FryDay, you will realise it. Eighty per cent of the film is shot in a house, but despite that, it is not boring. It has been handled in a classy way. If you ask me, I think it was a masterpiece. Critics gave it three-and-a-half stars, and they are not fools.

Yet, it didn’t do well...
(Cuts in) It wasn’t allowed to do well. I don’t believe in Rs 100 crore business. It is fake, it’s a drama. If something is allowed to run (in theatres), and then it does well or not, it’s your fate. And, it’s not just with me, this has happened to several people including some big stars and they, too, have fought.

David Dhawan is remaking Hero No 1 with Varun Dhawan...
I don’t want to comment on it.

Any plans of exploring the digital platform?
Right now, I am focussing on films because I think with FryDay I have started again. At least it got released, warna pehle release ki problem hoti thi. Kitne films dabbe mein reh gayi. Next, Rangeela Raja will hit the theatres with cuts or no cuts — depends on Pahlaj ji whether he accepts or not — or how successful Prasoon Joshi ji is in having his way. I will probably do a film or a series on the digital platform mid-2019, not before that. I had an offer in 2017, but I didn’t take it up.