When Johny Lever called Govinda 'madman' for working on 5-6 films simultaneously: 'The man would get exhausted… he would fall sick'
Long before memes and reels ruled comedy,
Govinda
was the undisputed king of laughs in Bollywood. His electrifying screen presence, unbeatable comic timing, and ability to juggle multiple films made him a force to reckon with in the '90s.
In a nostalgic interview, veteran comedian Johny Lever looked back at those whirlwind days and offered a heartfelt tribute to Govinda's unmatched work ethic and genius in comedy.
In conversation with Wild Films India, Johny fondly recalled Govinda's peak era, describing him as incredibly dedicated and tireless. According to Lever, Govinda often juggled 5–6 film shoots a day, seamlessly performing comedy, dance, and action scenes.
Even illness couldn't slow him down—he would recover quickly and return to sets with the same energy and focus.
He also shared that working with Govinda was always a joy. In his view, among all the stars known for comedy, Govinda stood out for his exceptional timing. While he acknowledged that actors like
Akshay Kumar
have recently sharpened their comic skills, he maintained that Govinda's talent remained unmatched.
When reflecting on their best collaborations, Johny highlighted Deewana Mastana and Joru Ka Ghulam as memorable standouts. He also recalled the intense shooting schedules, mentioning how Govinda often needed short breaks between takes to recover his energy before jumping back in, always ready to deliver another flawless comic performance.
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India.com
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Govinda once allegedly quit a blockbuster for Salman Khan, he later repaid the favour by relaunching his career with.. the film was…
Govinda once allegedly quit a blockbuster for Salman Khan, he later repaid the favour by relaunching his career with.. the film was… In the ever-evolving world of showbiz, many actors come with the dream of making it big on the silver screen. But in this unpredictable world of Bollywood, fame is always fleeting. The destiny of any actor changes with every Friday release, depending on how much they have earned at the box office. What's interesting is that sometimes even the superhit stars who have delivered a streak of hits and earned name and fame also fall prey to this uncertainty. The actors that we are talking about are none other than the celebrated celebrities Salman Khan and Govinda. In an industry where competition often overshadows camaraderie, the bond between Salman Khan and Govinda stands out as a rare example of genuine friendship. Delivering several films together, the two appeared in the cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna, although it was just a cameo and didn't feature them in the same scene. Later, they were both seen in Salaam-e-Ishq, but again, their roles didn't intersect on-screen. Finally, both appeared in Partner, and their chemistry was widely hailed and appreciated. The film also turned out to be a superhit. Govinda Had Once Given Up a Hit Film for Salman Interestingly, their chemistry wasn't just limited to on-screen but also known off-screen. Back in 1997, when Govinda was at the peak of his career, he was initially offered the film Judwaa. However, one night at around 2–3 AM, Salman called him and asked, 'How many hits will you keep delivering?' and requested him to let go of Judwaa. Without a second thought, Govinda stepped back and allowed Salman to take the lead role. Later, this film turned out to be a superhit. Salman Returned the Favour After 10 Years Years later, when Govinda's career had hit a rough patch and roles had dried up, Salman came to his rescue. At that time, Salman was delivering hit after hit. When Partner was being planned, Salman personally requested director David Dhawan and producer Sohail Khan (his brother) to cast Govinda alongside him. That decision not only revived Govinda's career but also turned Partner into a blockbuster, proving that good friendships exist even in a competitive world. Salman Khan once also publicly said that Govinda was one of the best actors of his era. Both started their careers around the same time and achieved superstar status. While Govinda has remained away from the limelight for a while, their bond has stood the test of time. And in a world full of fleeting fame, their story reminds us that some friendships truly go beyond the screen.
