"I am a selfish artist, I enjoy watching myself" - Govinda 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, August 4, 2007 - 14:48 IST
Ek Mulaqat is a weekly chat show presented by BBC Hindi India Editor, Sanjeev Srivastava. The programme brings lively and informative interviews with some of India's most famous people, including politicians, artists, sports personalities and Bollywood stars.
Below are excerpts from Govinda's interview on BBC Ek Mulaqat to be broadcast on Radio One 94.3 FM this Sunday [5 August 2007]
On BBC Ek Mulaqat, our guest today is someone who has won our hearts for many years with his dancing, acting and comedy. Now he is proving his skills in politics. We have with us Govinda
You know we were waiting for a long time for a chance to met you and rag you.
I'm a bit cautious now that you've said 'ragging', but thank you for honouring me so much.
You've acted in about 100 films. How has this long journey been for you so far?
I consider it a blessing - my parent's blessing, my elder's blessing, my grandparent's blessing, and specially the blessing of that house which gave my whole family a chance to work in this field. If I start thanking, the list will be very long. People have been very kind. I'm still learning and the journey is on.
For a long time, you have been referred to as 'the boy from Virar'.Do you like that or feel that it's enough now?
Some things get attached to you and somehow they are kept alive too. This tag of 'the boy from Virar' was said very fondly. My father used to say that at least thanks to this you will remain a 'boy' even in your old age. I believe that there's a reason behind every thing that is attached to you. You must understand that reason and keep moving on in life.
I think the reason behind this phrase must have been to say how far you have come.
You say that out of the goodness of your heart. Everything has a reason. In what sense a certain thing was said and what comes of it also matters. Talk is just talk. Sometimes it has something to do with actions and sometimes not.
I didn't think my words had such a deep meaning.
So far I've been taking this phrase very casually.
Tell us about the early days of your career - how did you struggle in the industry? Of course, your first film itself was a hit.
Our struggle went of many years. My father used to be a hero in films. Mehboob Khan sahib gave him a break. My mother used to be a classical singer but there was a phase when my family was in trouble. Being from an artist family we were alright in terms of culture and society. When I saw my mother working I thought that I should also work. I started thinking of working at the age of 13 and that's when my struggle began. I started going to producers for work at the age of 14-15. They would say - you're too young, if there's any work for you we'll let you know. I used to go and sit at Rajshree Productions and Shantaram-ji's office. But I finally got work at the age of 21 when I had completed my B.Com. I had come to live with my uncle Uday Narayan Singh-ji. Ravi Chopra-ji gave me my first break. I met him through Gufi Paintal-ji. A person called Avinash took me to Ravi Chopra-ji and I worked for a clock brand called 'Allwyn'. My first cheque was for 4000 or 4500. I bought my mother a saree and some boxes of sweets with the money.
After becoming an MP, I started my work with the local train only. I have a long association with local trains. I was returning on the local train when I met a sadhu. He asked me - is your name Govinda and have you got some work today? I thought he must be a well-connected man; the news has already reached him. But then he said - you are going to your mother. I asked him how he knew all this. He said that my good time was about to begin and that I will meet many gurus in different fields and I should always respect them. Saying this he got off at the next station. I reached home and handed the cheque to my mother.
The first time I sat in a plane, I felt very weird, because we used to live in a village and run after all the vehicles that used to come into the village. And if a plane would fly over our village, we would watch it for a long time and then discuss it at length. Then we started shooting in Kashmir and the whole cycle of work began. My first film that released was Tan Badan, then Love 86 and then Jhoota Ilzaam. Love 86 was the first film I signed. And it's been on since then - Love 86 too happens sometimes, so does Jhoota Ilzaam!
Now it's Love 2007 that's on. Tell us a song of your choice.
The song 'Fikr ko dhooen mein udata chala gaya' from dev Anand-ji's film Hum Dono. This song has a certain carefree attitude, a little romance, a little spiritualism, and the capacity that a man has to fight the battles within one's character. I like the music very much.
'Fikr ko dhooen mein udata chala gaya' has a certain carefree attitude, a little romance, a little spiritualism
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The way films used to be classified as art films or Manmohan Desai type films, there was a time when films used to be called Govinda-type films. How do you feel hearing this?
I did many serious type films at a very young age, and so I became sort of tired. Actually, characters used to influence me because I used to immerse myself in my work. I saw an interview of Dilip Uncle's [Dilip Kumar] where a doctor told him to do comedy films so that he would keep in good health. Then I did a film called Intezaar with him. My mother said that if you get a chance to press his feet, you must do so. I met him in his room and chatted with him. In totality I understood that the work you do shows its effects on your personality. I did comedy films and enjoyed my work very much. That work created an image and now I'm in that image. Sometimes I like it and sometimes it causes problems. The artist in me is trapped in this image and struggling. But all said and done, I'm happy with this image. Now every one has entered this genre and is trying their hand at comedy.
Looking at you, I also feel that this isn't just about acting. Your personality itself is happy-go-lucky. People say that Govinda is known for his timing. Was it like this always or did you have to work hard at it?
I achieved everything with hard work. I wasn't always a dancer. I saw a John Travolta film called Saturday Night Fever and started learning to dance. I used to get broken tape recorders and I would play around with them and practice dancing. Then I started learning. Ram Master-ji taught me action without charging me anything. Saroj-ji didn't take a dance fee, and Roshan Taneja didn't charge me any fee for learning acting. I was very committed, so they must have thought that a new enthusiast has come and wants to passionately immerse himself in the art. I also tried to keep that intact. The way property is lost, the same way the environment around you tries to drain your moral fibre. Preserving that is a disciplined act and I kept that in mind.
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I wasn't always a dancer. I saw a John Travolta film called Saturday Night Fever
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Another song of your choice?
The song 'Haathon ki chand lakeeron ka, main aashique hoon takdeeron ka' from the film 'Vidhata'. In this song, Dilip Uncle answers 'Taqdeer hai kya main kya jaanoon, main aashique hoon tadbeeron ka'. This song was also filmed on a train and I like it very much.
When you started going around asking for work, who was the person who believed in you?
I think a man has the will to work, and a way of behaving lovingly, which I had in me. Perhaps that's why every one supported me. There were very few people who didn't support me, and I can count them on my fingers.
Tell us their names.
No. They also gave me energy. Every obstacle gave me energy and I am thankful to them. I went through a phase when every one wanted only to help me. Maybe it was because of my uncle Uday Narayan-ji. I used to get five rupees from his place every morning, and I used to set out with that every day. Those days you got tea for 95paise and I used to take roti and butter. My mother said - don't stop having milk and butter, so my face keeps glowing. I never used to eat spicy food. From the offices of Gufi Paintal and Ravi Chopra to Rinku Rakesh Nath's office, I got nothing but support and work. Even if I didn't get work, I got respect and a cup of tea for being the son of senior artists. Even those who said negative things said that there's a fire in me, and that if I returned after six months, I could get work there.
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I used to get five rupees from my uncle every morning, and I used to set out with that every day
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You believe in your mother a lot? I have always heard you mentioning your mother.
I have blind faith in my mother and I am proud of it. I got the impression in my mind that mother is working a lot. That's when the faith began and I decided that I won't let her work any more. I got all my energy from the decision that whatever happens I have to work now, and that's how I became Govinda.
Another song?
'Mile jo kadi-kadi ek zanzeer bane, pyar ka rang bharo zinda tasveer bane… humsafar ban ke chalo tho suhana hai safar, jo akeyla hi chale use na mile dagar' It's a very nice song. I like a lot of Amit-ji's songs but I like this one especially.
I like a lot of your songs. Tell us some songs you like from your own films.
My music directors shouldn't take offence but I needed to do those songs - they weren't my choice. I am the son of a classical singer. If you want to play a song from my films, you could play the song from 'Jaisi karni, vaisi bharni'. It was a song about parents - 'Sabse badi pooja hai mata pita ki…'
A lot of your initial films were with Neelam. Was there a particular reason for that?
The neelam [sapphire] stone also brings some people luck, and it seems Neelam also had the capability to brighten the future. She is a very good actress. I was appreciated a lot with her - she was English and I was desi [local]. Then I worked with Karisma Kapoor - she was also very English, and I was very desi. Now my film Partner is coming and I am working with Katrina Kaif - again she is English and I am desi. I feel my stars match with such people.
So did you become English or did you make them desi?
I changed a little and so did they. A new energy is created when two cultures meet.
Which was your most memorable film with Neelam?
There isn't one memorable film with Neelam - there's a song. I went up to Vaishno Devi by foot with my nephew on sitting on my head. Both my feet had swollen. I did that song in honour of Rakesh Roshan-ji. The filming of that song was postponed by a day due to my swollen feet. The next day the song was filmed in just six hours and the song became a hit. Neelam and I presented that song at many stage shows. The song was 'Mai se meena se no saaki se, dil bahalta hai mera aapke aa jane se…
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Karisma Kapoor and you were also a fantastic pair. How was your experience of working with her?
Some kids become their parents' weapons, especially those who have been through a bad phase. Karisma had also been through such a phase. She did all that her mother told her to. She was her mother's first pupil, and served her mother well. Despite belonging to an affluent family, she struggled a lot. I remember we were doing a song 'Husn hai suhana' - and there was a step where she had to walk on her knees. I told her - Karisma, let's change the step; your knees will get hurt. She cried and said - No, I will do this step otherwise I will be embarrassed. And she did that step. There was a stubborn-ness and an innocence that remained in her. She did every thing her mother told her to. I respect such people who respect their parents.
But from what you say, it seems Karishma herself lost some thing in the process.
No, that's not what I'm saying. Relationships can't be measured with gains and losses. Where there's gain, there is loss too. A good artist should love someone very deeply and purely. I believe that that's where they get their energy from.
You weren't miserly with your love ever?
Every one should stay in bonding, but if you live your life freely, you will get both good and bad experiences, and these are useful.
These days, what experiences are you taking advantage of?
I think of the experiences I got before and that satisfies me.
Do you get heart-broken by the comings and goings of those you love deeply or do you move on?
Comings and goings are momentary. Your family, friends and people in your social circle are with you. Sometimes things work out sometimes they don't but I don't carry the weight of these things with me. I am not that kind of a coolie.
Many of your films like Coolie No. 1, Hero No.1 were big hits. Didn't you ever have the impression/belief that you are number one?
A person, who emerges after struggle, has an unwanted pressure on him. That was the case with me and so I never thought that I am number one. This was to my advantage also - I kept learning from my co-stars and slowly reached where I have today.
Another song of your choice?
'Badan pe sitare lapte hue…'
Sing it for us.
No, I'll sing it if you invite me with the payment for it.
Next time we'll have to invite you with payment?
Have I made a mistake? I always say that only two people can scold me - one is biwi [wife] and the other is BBC.
I see both John Travolta and Michael Jackson's image in you. Are inspired by them?
Absolutely. You must keep taking inspiration.
I recently saw you dance in a programme - it was very good.
Yes, people praised it a lot. I danced to songs from my films. When we were kids, we used to copy big artists, and learnt a lot this way. I keep learning from great artists.
You spoke of Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar, but I feel I see in you some impressions of Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna.
People have seen many images in me. This is because I was brought up right under a theatre - my house is build below a theatre. The voices keep carrying from in there. We would go to sleep hearing those voices and wake up to the sound of music. I have learnt from all artists.
Your favourite actor?
As an actor Dilip Uncle, as a hero, Dharmendra, and in the newer era, Amitabh Bachchan. They are great icons.
After a long time I've heard a fan of Dharmendra's.
I have yet to see as handsome a hero as him - that once he comes on screen, you neither hear his dialogues not see the location - just keep looking at that man who has maintained himself even till now. God has given all of us a body, but the way he has taken care of that body is worth seeing. His daily routine and diet are all very good and it shows on his face. His personality is very attractive. Someone who works so hard automatically becomes attractive. He has had a great impact on village boys. In our village, any boy who would build his body was told - do you think you are Dharmendra?
Your favourite actress?
My favourite actress is Madhuri Dixit.
How did you get the name Chichi?
In Punjabi, the little finger of your hand is called Chichi. My father kept this name and my mother used to like it a lot. Every time she should get a statue of Lord Krishna carrying the Govardhan Mountain with his little finger. She would say that Chichi will become a chichi like this. I used to say - why do you say that, why would I lift a mountain? That was just mother's way of showering her blessings.
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In Punjabi, the little finger of your hand is called Chichi
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I didn't know you are Punjabi. There have been Punjabi superstars in every generation. Hope there is no hanky-panky there?
We are artists and appreciate art, and respect the land where we belong. Art expands a person's personality. My mother is from Banaras so you can see more of Banaras in me. All my UP films became super hits.
Another song of your choice?
'Chod do aanchal zamaana kya kahega…' and Dev sahib's reply was 'In adaaon ka zamaana bhi hai deewana, deewana kya kahega.'
Which actress did like being paired with, or thought that this pair will be liked by people?
I enjoy watching myself. I am a selfish artist. I keep seeing myself - I see if I have improved myself or not; am I looking bad. Actresses I work with tell me that only if I get out of myself will I be able to see anyone else. This is all the magic of combined hard work and God's blessings.
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I enjoy watching myself. I am a selfish artist
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But star pair?
I liked the song that Amitabh Bachchan and I did with Madhuri Dixit in Bade Miya, Chhote Miya I was so happy when I saw that song that I whistled. There are Allahabadi, Punjabi and Marathi colours spreading all over in that song. After this song, my uncle called from Banaras to say - yes, now you have became a fairly good artist. The atmosphere that was created after that song was historical for me.
You and I are both fans of Amitabh Bachchan. But I feel that you were better than Amitabh in Bade Miya Chhote Miya?
I don't feel so. It is my misfortune that this was inculcated in the public's mind. I saw politics in this. You are made a competitor to someone who is an icon and whom you consider an elder brother, guru and part of your family. Some people wanted that these two should not get along. And I felt 'Art Power' was also at fault to some extent, and that came across in the film. Had I known this, I would never have let it happen. This issue wasn't just thrown up, it was discussed a lot.
When two people work together, it is commonly discussed.
But an issue was created and the attempt was to ensure that these people should not work together in future. The chance I got to work with him, the satisfaction I got from it, I am very grateful to him for that. What I learnt from him while working with him, I put into practice in my daily life.
What did you learn?
I learnt a lot - had a lot of experiences.
Any of your favourite actors who you worked with?
From the point of view of learning, Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. And from the fun angle, my peer Sanjay Dutt, and more recently Salman Khan. Our films were made all in fun, and are now ready to be released.
Which are the films that are close to your heart?
I work with all my heart, but I take my work to heart. The way you offer flowers to God, I offer my work before Him. It is in God's hands to appreciate my work. Your heart should be pure, but also hard as a diamond. You should work lovingly but not work so much that you get entangled in that.
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The way you offer flowers to God, I offer my work before Him.
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Another song?
I used to sing this song when I used to do comedy films. It one of my favourites - 'Aaj purani raahon par koi mujhe aawaz na de, dard bhare who geet na de, ghum ka sisakta saaz na de... '
Who sang it?
Mohammed Rafi sahib sang it and Dilip sahib is in the song. It's from the film Aadmi aur Insaan.
How do you like being criticized?
If the critic is honest then he's the best friend. If he's dishonest, then he's just a part of society. Critics are very energetic, and dishonest critics are business-like. They do what they feel is profitable to them. My focus is on my goal.
What is your goal?
Good work - because of which I became a Parliament Member, which my family is attached to. The power of that work I take inspiration from and am always ready to serve.
If a critic is dishonest it's not acceptable, but is a dishonest admirer ok?
From an artist, when you become a star, you will be discussed at various levels.
How did you enter politics? Are you happy in politics?
Happiness and unhappiness is a non-issue in politics. The issue here is are you together or not - one keeps happiness and unhappiness aside and thinks of unity and this means a lot to me. One thing is for sure - I am a man of my words. Whether politics drenches you or not, it keeps your feet wet. It's to be seen how much it troubles you or satisfies you. Being an artist we look at ourselves as pupils in politics - and we see how much effort it takes. It was my elders' wish that I join this, see this and know this. So I joined politics and I am trying to understand.
People say that here also Govinda arrives late like a star.
I tell them that you wanted a star and worker. A worker has his limitations, and every one has their fields. I feel that I have never shown any stardom. I went to every hut and every drain. When I started campaigning I used to look like a Punjabi hero, when I finished, I had started looking like a South-Indian hero. I say this respectfully. I contributed to the party as per my capacity and my thinking. I think and move; I don't move and then think. My thinking isn't mine alone; it includes the advice and blessings from elders.
What should Govinda's fans expect from him in times to come?
I am an artist and will remain an artist. I will always remain a pupil and I believe in practice. I have a lot of curiosity. I just need blessings, and that's what I hope for from elders. I ask forgiveness for my mistakes.
You really have become a politician.
The amazing thing is when a man says the right thing people say he's become a politician. Someone once said to me at a function that you have the capability to become a politician. I said when did I ask you for a vote or take advantage? He said it's not about votes Govinda, you think a lot before you speak. I said I got this from my mother and my family that one should always think before speaking. My way of speaking is because of my mother. It's not politics but yes, it's the right way.
In your heart, is there a wish or desire that you would first like to fulfil if given a chance?
This isn't the age to express emotion. Even your thoughts are stolen. I keep my thoughts to myself. I only express them when I have to.
Courtesy Radio One 94.3 FM
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