Govinda (Hindi: गोविंदा) (born Govind Arun Ahuja, on 21 December 1963) is a Filmfare award-winning Indian actor and politician. He has appeared in over 120 Hindi language films. At the start of his career, his acting and dancing skills gained him widespread attention among film viewers. He later gained worldwide fame as a Bollywood icon through comedy films such as Shola Aur Shabnam, Aankhen, Coolie No. 1, Haseena Maan Jaayegi and Partner.He was a member of the Indian National Congress Party He was elected as the 7th Member of Parliament for the Mumbai North Constituency of Maharashtra, India in the 14th Lok Sabha elections after defeating Ram Naik of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In 2009 General Elections he opted out of politics to concentrate more in film.However he continues to have political favor from Congress Party.His constituency was succeeded by Sanjay Nirupam(also from Congress Party)
In June 1999, Govinda was voted as the 10th greatest star of stage or screen of the last thousand years by BBC News Online users
Early life
Govinda’s father, Arun Kumar Ahuja, was born in pre-partition Gujranwala (now in Pakistan) on January 26, 1917. He studied in an engineering college at Lahore. Veteran producer Mehboob Khan brought him to Mumbai in 1937 and cast him in Ek hi Raasta as the leading man.an actor in the 1940s. Arun was notable for acting in Mehboob Khan's Aurat (1940). Govinda's mother, Nazeem who was muslim had converted to hinduism and adopted the name Nirmala Devi. Arun and Nirmala first met during the making of the film Savera, in which they were cast opposite each other. They married in 1941.
The only film Ahuja ever produced was a flop. Unable to bear the loss, his health failed. The family, living in a bungalow on Mumbai's upmarket Carter Road, was forced to move to Virar -- a far- flung semi-rural Mumbai suburb, where Govinda was born. The youngest of six children—his pet name Chi Chi means little finger in Punjabi, the language they speak at home. Since his father was unable to work, Nirmala Devi brought up the children through hard times in Mumbai
The only film Ahuja ever produced was a flop. Unable to bear the loss, his health failed. The family, living in a bungalow on Mumbai's upmarket Carter Road, was forced to move to Virar -- a far- flung semi-rural Mumbai suburb, where Govinda was born. The youngest of six children—his pet name Chi Chi means little finger in Punjabi, the language they speak at home. Since his father was unable to work, Nirmala Devi brought up the children through hard times in Mumbai
Acting career
He studied at Annasahb Vartak College in Vasai, Maharashtra. He graduated in commerce, but failed to find a job. He was not considered for a steward's position at the Taj Mahal hotel because his English wasn't good enough. His father suggested films. Around this time, Govinda saw the film Saturday Night Fever and dance became his obsession. He practised for hours and circulated a promo of himself on a VHS cassette. Soon a fertiliser commercial came his way, followed by an Allwyn ad, finally his very first leading role in Tan Badan which was to be directed by his uncle Anand. He started shooting for his next film Love 86 in June 1985. By mid-July, he had signed 40 others.
His first film to be released Ilzaam (1986) was a box office success and 5th biggest hit of 1986.The film established him as a dancing star. He acted in a string of movies after that with mixed success. Most of the films he appeared in during the 1980s were in the action, romance or family drama genres. He was often paired opposite actress Neelam and together they appeared in hit films such as Love 86 (1986), Khudgarz (1987) and his brother Kirti Kumar's directed Hatya (1988). He had success with family drama films such as Dariya Dil (1988), Jeete Hain Shaan Se (1988) and Hum (1991) as well as action films such as Marte Dam Tak (1987) and Jung Baaz (1989). He worked with David Dhawan for the first time in the 1989 action film Taaqatwar. He also had a hit film that year with Rajini Kanth & Sridevi in Ghair Khanooni
He acted in critically acclaimed film Zulm Ki Hukumat, an Indian remake of Godfather where his performance was appreciated. He then formed a successful collaboration with David Dhawan and went onto act in 17 movies directed by him most of which were comedy films. The most successful films during their collaboration included Shola Aur Shabnam (1992), Aankhen (1993), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Hero No. 1 (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Anari No. 1 (1999), Jodi No. 1 (2001)and Partner . Dhawan and other directors frequently cast him opposite actresses such as Divya Bharati, Karishma Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, and Raveena Tandon during the 1990s.
Govinda played the role of a villain for the first time in his career in Shikari (2000). Although the movie was not a commercial success, Govinda's convincing portrayal of a sociopath murderer was critically acclaimed. govinda's a famous movie was dulha raja and was a super hit
His box office draw suffered a setback in the early 2000s following a series of commercially unsuccessful films.He turned down roles in Taal, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Devdas which went on to become successful films. His acting career was further affected when he contested and won the seat for Member of Parliament from Mumbai North in the 2004 parliamentary elections. He did not have any new film releases in 2004 and 2005 although some of his delayed films such as Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen (2005) and his own home production Ssukh (2005) were released but were box office disasters.
Govinda made a comeback to films in late 2006 with the comedy film Bhagam Bhag alongside Akshay Kumar which was a failure. His first 2007 release was the huge multi-starrer Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love. Although a box office disappointment, Govinda was praised for his performance.
His second 2007 release was the David Dhawan directed comedy Partner, which co-stars Salman Khan. The film grossed Rs.300 Million in India on its opening week, the second highest domestic opening week gross for an Indian film up until then. His recently released film for 2008 is Money Hai Toh Honey Hai. In 2008 Salman Khan invited David Dhawan and Govinda on his show Dus Ka Dum to celebrate the success of their film Partner. In 2009, he recently had a unsuccessful film titled 'Life Partner' .
Govinda has joined Mani Ratnam's Bilingual Project along with Vikram, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Prabhu Ganesan, Karthik Muthuraman, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Ravi Kishan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Priyamani and Tejaswini Kolhapure.The film is titled Raavan in Hindi and Ashokavanam in Tamil.Govinda plays a forest officer who takes Vikram's character through the forests in search of a wanted criminal.While it was earlier speculated that it was a contemporary version of Hanuman,Govinda refutes the claim.Karthik Muthuraman plays the character in Ashokavanam.
Govinda gets back to the successful trio of David Dhawan, Vashu Bhagnani and himself with the movie Do Knot Disturb
His first film to be released Ilzaam (1986) was a box office success and 5th biggest hit of 1986.The film established him as a dancing star. He acted in a string of movies after that with mixed success. Most of the films he appeared in during the 1980s were in the action, romance or family drama genres. He was often paired opposite actress Neelam and together they appeared in hit films such as Love 86 (1986), Khudgarz (1987) and his brother Kirti Kumar's directed Hatya (1988). He had success with family drama films such as Dariya Dil (1988), Jeete Hain Shaan Se (1988) and Hum (1991) as well as action films such as Marte Dam Tak (1987) and Jung Baaz (1989). He worked with David Dhawan for the first time in the 1989 action film Taaqatwar. He also had a hit film that year with Rajini Kanth & Sridevi in Ghair Khanooni
He acted in critically acclaimed film Zulm Ki Hukumat, an Indian remake of Godfather where his performance was appreciated. He then formed a successful collaboration with David Dhawan and went onto act in 17 movies directed by him most of which were comedy films. The most successful films during their collaboration included Shola Aur Shabnam (1992), Aankhen (1993), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Hero No. 1 (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Anari No. 1 (1999), Jodi No. 1 (2001)and Partner . Dhawan and other directors frequently cast him opposite actresses such as Divya Bharati, Karishma Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, and Raveena Tandon during the 1990s.
Govinda played the role of a villain for the first time in his career in Shikari (2000). Although the movie was not a commercial success, Govinda's convincing portrayal of a sociopath murderer was critically acclaimed. govinda's a famous movie was dulha raja and was a super hit
His box office draw suffered a setback in the early 2000s following a series of commercially unsuccessful films.He turned down roles in Taal, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Devdas which went on to become successful films. His acting career was further affected when he contested and won the seat for Member of Parliament from Mumbai North in the 2004 parliamentary elections. He did not have any new film releases in 2004 and 2005 although some of his delayed films such as Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen (2005) and his own home production Ssukh (2005) were released but were box office disasters.
Govinda made a comeback to films in late 2006 with the comedy film Bhagam Bhag alongside Akshay Kumar which was a failure. His first 2007 release was the huge multi-starrer Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love. Although a box office disappointment, Govinda was praised for his performance.
His second 2007 release was the David Dhawan directed comedy Partner, which co-stars Salman Khan. The film grossed Rs.300 Million in India on its opening week, the second highest domestic opening week gross for an Indian film up until then. His recently released film for 2008 is Money Hai Toh Honey Hai. In 2008 Salman Khan invited David Dhawan and Govinda on his show Dus Ka Dum to celebrate the success of their film Partner. In 2009, he recently had a unsuccessful film titled 'Life Partner' .
Govinda has joined Mani Ratnam's Bilingual Project along with Vikram, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Prabhu Ganesan, Karthik Muthuraman, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Ravi Kishan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Priyamani and Tejaswini Kolhapure.The film is titled Raavan in Hindi and Ashokavanam in Tamil.Govinda plays a forest officer who takes Vikram's character through the forests in search of a wanted criminal.While it was earlier speculated that it was a contemporary version of Hanuman,Govinda refutes the claim.Karthik Muthuraman plays the character in Ashokavanam.
Govinda gets back to the successful trio of David Dhawan, Vashu Bhagnani and himself with the movie Do Knot Disturb
