ver the past few years, Govinda’s daughter Tina Ahuja has learnt the ropes behind the camera by assisting her father with his events, appearances, and photoshoots.

She shares, “Everywhere I went, people would say, ‘Aapke ghar mein hi ek superstar hain, why not learn from him?’ Toh maine socha wohi kar loon. Things took a positive turn after my music video was released in 2021. People began recognizing me for my identity beyond just being Govinda’s daughter. Eventually, I joined my dad and started managing his work, dates and accompanying him to his shoots. Working alongside him has been a turning point. The pressure of living up to his legacy began to fade, and I started enjoying the journey. My dad is an institution of acting, and what he taught me in a short span would’ve otherwise taken me a decade to learn. Now, you switch the camera on and watch me perform (smiles).”

Tina made her acting debut with Second Hand Husband (2015) alongside Gippy Grewal. Ask her about being labelled as an overlooked star kid, who didn’t get the quintessential dream launch, and she replies, “I have never been bothered by these tags or the ‘what if’ scenarios. Mujhe jaise kaam mila main karte gayi. Also, what’s the guarantee that a film backed by a top filmmaker and featuring a top star will succeed at the box office?”

There were rumours of Salman Khan launching her, which she dispels. She says, “The rumours started when I accompanied my father to an event. He had to go ahead and I was by myself on the green carpet. Salman ji noticed and told me to go with him. We were clicked together, and I was in the papers the next day. It became a talking point.”

Being Govinda’s daughter didn’t automatically translate into substantial acting projects for Tina. She shares, “I didn’t get as many opportunities, probably because my parents did not belong to any group. Ek hota hai na ki apni beti ko promote karne ke liye thodi chamchagiri karni padti hai, woh sab main kabhi nahi chaahti nahi ki mere parents mere liye karein. I didn’t want to use my dad’s influence; it would have felt like added pressure. My father is used to receiving calls from people seeking favours for their children, and I wouldn’t like him to be on the other side.”

Addressing misconceptions around her career, she recalls, “A big director once wanted to cast me, but his team wondered if I’d be open to auditioning. There was a perception that as a star kid, I wouldn’t audition, which ended up costing me opportunities. Some filmmakers were wary of casting me, assuming my father would accompany me to shoots. Why would he interfere? He has never visited my sets. These baseless assumptions were frustrating. Being Govinda’s daughter led to assumptions, not film offers.”

While she enjoys assisting her father behind the camera, Tina hasn’t ruled out a return to acting. In fact, she has bagged a Punjabi film.

She shares, “I am open to facing the camera again, but I am not desperate. Itna bhi make-up lagaane ka shauq nahi hai mujhe (laughs!). I want to do meaningful work, whether in films, web shows, or behind the camera. Bas achha manch mile jahaan par main apna talent dikha paaun.”