'Bhagam Bhag': Priyadarshan reveals he was warned about casting Govinda
What's the story
For years, Govinda was infamous for his tardiness in Bollywood, which allegedly contributed to his downfall after his superstardom in the 1990s. Recently, filmmaker Priyadarshan revealed he had similar reservations when casting him for Bhagam Bhag. However, to his relief, the actor was punctual during their collaboration. Priyadarshan called this one of his "biggest achievements."
Filmmaker's perspective
Priyadarshan's experience working with Govinda
In a recent interview with Mashable India, Priyadarshan said, "I told Govinda that I had heard all these things [lack of punctuality] about you, so please don't do the film if you cannot come on time." "But I tell you something, every day he was on time. I really enjoyed working with him." He also said his biggest achievement was getting Govinda and Salman Khan at 5:00am and finishing the respective films on time.
Actor's creativity
The actor's improvisation on set
Priyadarshan also spoke about Govinda's tendency to improvise on set. The actor often added his own lines, which sometimes posed a challenge for the filmmaker. "Govinda used to put his own lines, so I told him, 'I'm already paying Neeraj Vora (screenwriter), I don't need another writer.'" The movie also starred Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal.
Industry insights
Several directors have complained about Govinda's tardiness
Over the years, several people have complained about Govinda. Vijay Patkar, a part of Mukul Anand's Hum, told Filmymntra Media that the director had to wait for three days because Govinda wasn't on set. Additionally, producer Vashu Bhagnani recalled an incident where 75 people waited for three days because the actor didn't show up. However, these claims were denied by Govinda's manager in an interview with ETimes. He clarified that any delays were due to health or travel complications.
Actor's defense
This is what Govinda said about his bad reputation
Recently, Govinda spoke about his "bad reputation" in the industry. He said, "Look, in this film industry, everyone at some point is forced out and given a bad reputation." He cited examples of Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna, who also faced similar criticism during their careers. "It's a phase you have to go through. How you come out of it, that's the game," he told Siddharth Kannan.