As told to Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 24, 2019)

I had wanted to get into films ever since I watched Shah Rukh Khan in Baazigar. After finishing school, I went to a film institute in Chandigarh and started working in theatre. My first acting experience was performing in front of a live audience and that gave me a lot of confidence. It also helped as while acting in films, you are surrounded by a lot of unknown people who watch you perform.

For my role as Choocha in Fukrey, I followed a pattern by touching base with people who are like him in real life. I would stand outside schools and colleges in Delhi to observe the mannerisms of the kids. I never interacted with them, as I wanted to have an independent take on the character, however I did incorporate the nuances I had picked up.

Working with Govinda in FryDay was the most enriching experience. Here, the process wasn’t to prepare before shooting, but to learn while enacting a scene with him. He has a flair for comedies, and my only attempt was to match his energy. I explored a different zone of comedy with him.

My upcoming film Arjun Patiala is the most interesting character that I have found after Choocha. It’s a buddy cop film with Diljit Dosanjh and Kriti Sanon which will make you laugh and cry at the same time. As I play a Punjabi cop in it, I spoke to a lot of policemen residing in small villages. There is a different shade of comedy in this film, which I was able to imbibe only after interacting with real people. It is important to not lose touch with the ground reality as real-life experiences come in handy when playing rooted characters.

Whenever I get the chance, I hang out with my non-filmy friends and visit different locations in India to interact with people. This gives me a different perspective on life, which I can incorporate when acting in films. I feel fortunate to have got the chance to explore different characters and work with talented directors who have helped me add a different arc to all my characters.

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.

Govinda on why his latest film FryDay, failed at the box office, his response to being termed unprofessional and lack of friends in the industry
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; November 11, 2018)

You got critical acclaim for FryDay, but the film didn't soar at the box office.
People had pre-conceived notions that FryDay won't work and hence, we got very few screens for the showcase. Despite that, the film managed to earn money. [It made Rs 1.53 crore, as per reports] This has happened to me earlier as well. My film, Sandwich (2006), which I hear is one of Aamir Khan's favourites, was not allowed to release in theatres despite being produced by the Thackerays [Smita Thackeray]. In our industry, the business for every actor is pre-decided. Audience learnt how award ceremonies in the country are a sham when it was exposed, soon the whole Rs 100 crore club will also crumble.

Are you implying that people have an agenda against you?
Ever since the corporates entered the industry, I believe there is politics. It happened earlier with Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar. I remember there was a time when people didn't want Amit ji, one of the greatest superstars in the industry, in their films. When I did a film [Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, 1998] with Amit ji, a lot of people warned and threatened me against working with him, because people assumed, he would cheat me and that he was a dangerous person. I didn't pay heed to any threats or bits of advice. In fact, I offered him to edit me out completely from the second half of the film, but he refused. He explained to me once, 'It's not important whether I [Big B] am doing good work or not, it's important that I get a hit.' As soon as the film released, I became a victim and the new target for internal politics. I was made to feel that if Amit ji is involved in a film, he won't let any other actor bask in the limelight. They often pitted me against Amit ji and the Khans. Considering the entire industry functions on relationships, someone tried to conspire and sabotage my chances in the upcoming line-up of films. Yes, it did affect me back then, but I am glad to be out of that phase.

Do you believe that you have no friends in the industry besides Salman Khan? And do you regret not having friends?
I don't have any friends in the industry and that is something I regret deeply. Going to late night parties and being a social animal was never my cup of tea. All I ever wanted to do was concentrate on my work and give my 100 per cent.

Popular belief still suggests that you are very difficult to deal with, are unapproachable and would always report late on the set. Is that true?
I used to report to Mani Ratnam's set for Raavan at 4 am. This often surprised the unit members and was often a topic of discussion. I believe people who I don't intend to work with are the ones spreading these rumours. I want to associate with directors who want to make good films and steer clear from the ones whose intentions I don't trust. When I say no to such people, they turn around and label me difficult and unapproachable.

You mentioned becoming a victim of politics post Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, but weren't you offered films like Taal and Devdas around the same time?
I was not sure how people would react if I played Chunilal [in Devdas]. I was at the peak of my career and couldn't grasp why I was being offered character roles. Frankly, I didn't want to do those roles. I also believe that I need to know a director well before I take up work with them. They both [Subhash Ghai and Sanjay Leela Bhansali] were new directors for me. In the early 2000s, I was in a secure space and didn't feel the need to experiment. But I will still reiterate that I don't think I have lost out on anything by declining their offer.

Was there a financial crunch during your difficult phase?
Having financial problems and still managing to keep your name intact is difficult. But then again, when you realise in a country with a population of over 1.5 billion only a handful manage to become heroes, you are humbled. I come from a humble family and I have had my share of hard work and struggle. I never imagined that I would become a star or maintain my stardom for over 15 years. My journey has had several ups and downs, but I kept moving forward. People still love me as their comic superstar and there are more than half a dozen actors who want to make that as their selling point.

Do you feel playing the comedian has restricted you as an actor?
No, it was always planned. I want to continue doing comedy cinema, after all, I ruled that genre and created a niche for myself. Doing comedy has never restricted me, I've only enjoyed it.

David Dhawan is reviving the No 1 series with son Varun Dhawan. Your comments.
I don't have the authority on the No 1 series. Besides David Dhawan, several filmmakers from different industries and languages have made these movies. It is not my prerogative to comment on it.

How do you look at your third innings in Bollywood?
I am happy doing work and cannot be bothered about anything else. My mother would often tell me, 'Govinda pehle tum takleef main kaam dhundoge, aur fir kaam main takleef' [laughs]. But I have made peace with the people around me. I try to introspect and figure out how to improve my game. I just want to win the love of the audience back.

Bonds in the industry
Govinda claims that Salman Khan and his family are his close friends from the industry. He says, "I have good relations with Salman [Khan] and his family. He is a nice person and there is a mutual appreciation. We are similar and that's why I believe our equation clicks. We have always stood by each other. When I say friends, it does not mean that we sit down every evening and drink or meet every day." He adds that time has not changed his friendship with Salman.

Despite pulling up Salman Khan for his apparent apathy in the past, Govinda says the two will always have one another's back
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; November 2, 2018)

Having returned to Bollywood to give a go at a second innings a few years ago, Govinda had chided former friends Salman Khan and David Dhawan for not standing by him in the time of need.

Even though he asserted that he was indebted to Khan, he had pulled up the latter for not giving his daughter, Tina, a chance in Bollywood. Yet, over the passing years, Govinda seems to have done a rethink, retracing his words and even making an appearance in the ongoing season of Khan-hosted reality show, Bigg Boss. Govinda tells mid-day, "Salman and I are buddies. We have a love-hate relationship, but we both back each other. I have enjoyed working with him, and have no qualms in sharing screen space with him again, if we get the right script."

Govinda's last release, FryDay, he admits, was "declared a flop even before it released". Yet, he believes that the situational comedy was underrated, and suffered due to people's lack of trust in it. "Despite being a good film, FryDay didn't get many screens because the industry [production houses] made a presumption that Govinda's film won't work, or will only do a certain amount of business. But, I am confident about my craft, and [pleased with] the reaction of people. It is a matter of time before my films start doing the desired [level of] business," says the actor, who will be seen in Pahlaj Nihalani's Rangeela Raja.

FryDay seemed unexciting from the trailers but surprisingly, turns out to be an enjoyable fare. The beginning isn’t great but once Govinda enters the narrative, the film gets on track. The film is majorly set in one house full of madcap characters on a Friday. And this big chunk of the film is damn good. The one-liners are hilarious and various misunderstandings and lies said by the protagonists keep the interest going. However, the film never really goes on a high or ROFL mode. Certain films have been on similar lines like Garam Masala, Housefull 1 and 2 and they have been better than FryDay. Also, the climax is sans any high. But the impact is made thanks to the script, dialogues and performances. Govinda is in top form and he proves that if the writing is topnotch, he can still work wonders just like the old times. Varun Sharma had a challenge since he had to match upto the comic timing of Govinda and surprisingly, he manages to do so very well. Digangana Suryavanshi looks charming and gives a decent performance while Prabhleen Sandhu also manages to put up a good act. Brijendra Kala and Rajesh Sharma are alright. FryDay sadly won’t work in theatres as there’s no excitement but it’s sure to get its due on television!

My rating - *** out of 5!

SCARY FRIDAY AS 4 FILMS TO RELEASE TOMORROW!

It’s going to be a chaotic and frightening Friday as 4 medium-budget films will try their luck at the box office. None of the films look that exciting and can have poor openings. Thankfully, AndhaDhun, released last week, is doing exceptionally well at the box office and it’ll save the day to an extent. My analysis:

HELICOPTER EELA: It stars Kajol and National Award Bengali actor Riddhi Sen. It is based on the Gujarati play Beta Kaagdo, written by Anand Gandhi. Pradeep Sarkar directs this light-hearted flick while Ajay Devgn has produced it. The trailer is sweet and funny but doesn’t give viewers a high. It was to release in September but it was postponed in August when Pradeep Sarkar was hospitalized. The songs haven’t worked, including the remix of Ruk Ruk Ruk. The opening is expected to be in the Rs. 1-2 crore range and a positive word of mouth might help the film reach the Rs. 25 crore mark.

JALEBI: It is produced by Mahesh Bhatt and it’s the first film of Vishesh Films after more than a year. A remake of Bengali film Praktan, it stars Rhea Chakraborty, Varun Mitra and Digangana Suryavanshi. It also marks the directorial debut of Pushpdeep Bhardwaj. The film looks in big trouble as the trailer hasn’t worked at well. Bhatt’s films are known for its songs but in case of Jalebi, even the songs have failed to get notice. The opening is expected to be less than Rs. 1 crore and it seems all set to be a disaster.

TUMBBAD: This is a horror film and produced by Anand Gandhi, on whose play Helicopter Eela is based, incidentally. Anand Gandhi had earlier directed Ship Of Theseus which had Sohum Shah as actor and produdcer. Tummbad also has him as co-producer and also lead actor. The trailer is eye catching and it looks like a unconventional scarefest. The awareness however is negligible. But a good word of mouth can help the film get decent crowd in multiplexes of cities.

FRYDAY: It features Govinda, Varun Sharma and Digangana Suryavanshi in leading roles and is directed by Dolly Ki Doli director Abhishek Dogra. The film was to release in May initially but was postponed for certain reasons, one of them being that it was reshot a bit, as per inside news. The trailer is quite okay and doesn’t look that funny that would attract people to cinemas. This film, hence, would also have an opening of less than Rs. 1 crore.

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; October 10, 2018)

After proving her acting chops on the small screen, Digangana Suryavanshi, who was last seen in Bigg Boss, three years ago, is all set to make a foray into Bollywood. Making a double debut, she will been seen in the comedy FryDay, starring Govinda and Varun Sharma and the romantic drama Jalebi as well. In a chat with BT, the actress sounds all excited about the rare opportunity, as the audience will get to see her playing two different characters.

You are debuting in Bollywood with two films —FryDay and Jalebi— releasing on the same day. That’s unusual.
It’s crazy. It’s almost like taking two competitive exams at the same time and deciding which course to pursue. I can’t say whether it’s good or bad. I called up Abhishek Dogra, director of FryDay, when I learnt about it. He told me not to overthink and soak in the fact that I was making history. What’s nice is that the two films belong to different genres and I will be seen in diverse roles. So, it won’t result in overlapping with the audience, as every genre enjoys a different set of viewers. This is a big opportunity for me, because there will be more reactions to my performances since I am dabbling with two genres. For me, the bigger responsibility was to be sincere and responsible during the shoot, as everything else that follows the release of the film is beyond my control. I am excited about two of my films releasing on the same day.

How diverse are the two characters that you play, considering both films are from different genres…
They are like chalk and cheese. In FryDay, my character is that of a quirky and spontaneous girl. She is opinionated and leads life on her own terms. In Jalebi, my character has more depth. She is responsible and though she is aware that she has no control on life, she knows how to emerge stronger from a difficult situation.

You are paired opposite two actors from different generations — Govinda in FryDayand Varun Mitra in Jalebi. How was the experience of working with them?
It doesn’t make any difference whether I shoot with a senior actor or an artiste of my age. I stop dealing with the person after a point. I only think of the character. I haven’t attempted comedy before, so, I was excited about shooting with Govinda sir. I have been a huge fan of his comic timing, however, I couldn’t let the fact that he is a superstar ruffle me up. He is a spontaneous actor and that’s an approach I am comfortable with, too. He brings in his experience with comedy in to every scene, which helps bring out the best in his co-actors. I approached our scenes together without any hesitation. I am extremely comfortable with whoever I shoot with. Having said that, when you are shooting with a younger actor, you are in a different space. It takes time to get into the skin of the character, because you’re relatively new to the setup.

What’s the plan ahead for your career?
At 20, I am one of the youngest actors to make a transition from TV to films and now, I just want to focus on my career. I want to play diverse characters. For me, it’s not just about looking good on screen. I want to take up roles that require me to slip into characters that are completely different from how I am in real life. That’s the challenge I am looking forward to. I have signed two films, one of which is with Pahlaj Nihalani, in which I will be reuniting with Govinda sir. I am not at liberty to talk about the second film at this point.