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Priyan is a school in himself : Govinda
The actor speaks to Kshama Rao about his forthcoming films and how politics cannot replace his love for acting.
On the sets of Priyadarshan’s Bhagambhaag in Chennai, we see Govinda looking lighter and a lot more cheerful. He follows his director’s instructions to the T and laughs around with his co-stars for the day, Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal.
And why not? He’s returning to celluloid after five years (that is if you discount his latest blink-and-miss flick Sandwich) and says he can’t wait to woo his audience again.
“But yes, a lot of people would be surprised to see me after this film. At least the 40 lakh people in my constituency would be,” he says, laughing uproariously adding, “I don’t want to spoil the fun for the viewers by talking about my role. The release is still far away.” What he’s willing to do is express his immense gratitude to stars like Salman Khan, Suniel Shetty and David Dhawan.
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| Govinda's returns to the silver screens again with Priyadarshan's BhaagamBhaag and Nikhil Advani's Salaam-E-Ishq. |
“When I called David and said I wanted to return to films, he promptly called up Salman and Suniel. Every film I’m doing happened within a week! Even Suniel readily decided to give the role that he was initially offered in
Bhaagambhaag
to me. Where do you see such selflessness and such love? I had never thought I would be doing films like
Partner
and
Bhaagamb haag
and Nikhil’s (Advani’s)
Salaam-E-Ishq
. I really feel loved and accepted,” he grins widely.
If there is any anxiety of coming back in these changed times of cinema, when the formula is slowly taking a backseat, film schedules are shorter, and when acting workshops are held and bound scripts are increasingly being demanded in place of on-the-set improvisation, the actor of many hits is not showing it.
He modestly says,“I’m nervous and that’s bound to happen but the people around me are so supportive that I feel extremely excited to face the camera and the audience.”
The conversation then veers to his status as MP and he smiles: “My concerns have always been local trains, water, school and hospitals. Yes, I have had rough sailing in my political career but then I believe anything you want to get into, you have to pay the entry fee."
"It’s been an eventful journey so far. I have even been blamed for heavy rains but then that’s politics. There are people always willing to pull you down or dismiss you. But if you plod along, eventually everything falls into place. I have definitely learnt a lot more about life in my role as an MP than an as actor but acting is my life, it is where I have always belonged.” We are sure Govinda’s fans feel the same as well.
Govinda plays a cabbie in Nikhil Advani’s film. About the Kal Ho Na Ho director he says, “There is a genius behind Nikhil. I am very impressed with his style, his shot taking and his conviction. He has a long and successful career ahead in films. I’m happy I am doing films with everybody, in every genre.”
Speaking about David Dhawan he says, “We have given 16 hits together. He was inspired by the Manmohan Desai school of filmmaking and today he has created the David Dhawan school. We will be there for each other always.”
Talking about Priyadarshan he says, "He is a school in himself. His films have incidents and situations that lend themselves to comedy. It’s refreshing to work with him.”
