Govinda is the man of the masses
Arun Roy

He has more releases every year than any other hero in Hindi cinema. All his starrers, regardless of their heroines and time of release, generate more revenue than most others. In fact, he is the only actor not to have a flop to his name in over a decade.

Any yet, Govinda is nowhere close to any of Bollywood’s big Khans, the Bachchans or even an Ajay Devgan. He continues to prance about in his trademark yellow trousers, purple shirts and white shoes — a master entertainer who has his soft, fat fingers firmly placed on the pulse of front-benchers.

"What’s wrong yaar?" he intones, in his comic filmi accent. "I am the superstar of the masses. As for clothes, they were the demands of the characters I play on screen. You see, laughter is beyond truth — the ultimate happiness. And hello, people are trying to do films like mine. It is the ultimate compliment."

Govinda defies categorisation. He is a class by himself — one who has single-handedly kept the box-office registers ticking with hits like ‘Raja Babu,’ ‘Coolie No 1,’ ‘Banarasi Babu’ and ‘Haseena Maan Jayegi’. In ‘Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan’ he stole the thunder from Amitabh Bachchan!

Observes Vinod Mirani, editor of a film trade journal: "Govinda is a success because he is the only all-rounder in Hindi films — he can dance, make people laugh and cry with equal aplomb. His name sells front-stall tickets in mofussil towns of Bihar as well as dress circle seats in Mumbai."

His niche is definitely comedy, but not the Keshto Mukherjee or Mehmood brand of add-on humour. Govinda infuses the comic element in his roles. "If he could have his way, he’d get comedy in every scene," remarks co-star Raveena Tandon. "He has a style which is hard to beat — that is being himself."

Many feel that as a front-stall attraction, Govinda’s versatility as an actor has been under-rated. He has won critical acclaim in ‘sensitive’ roles with films like ‘Hatya’ and ‘Pardesi Babu,’ which were devoid of gimmicks. Such off-beat forays have, however, been few.

Explains Govinda: "Earlier I was working for myself. Now I am working for cinema. I am looking for landmark films. It does not matter what I am paid, whether I get an award or not... There are bigger goals for me to aspire for at this stage of my career."

Even after 16 years of navigating through Bombay’s treacherous waters, this superstar is actually a simple man at heart. He meets his fans without too much ado. On every religious function, he visits the house he was born in, in the distant suburb of Virar, to be with the friends he grew up with .

At home, he worships his mother, Nirmala Devi — a former ‘bhajan’ singer. When she died in 1996, Govinda washed her feet with Ganges water, drank a little and kept the rest in his Madh Island bungalow. Ever since, on every birthday, he takes a sip of the water to invoke her blessings.

"I always wanted to see her happy here," he says emotionally. "Now she is there, but I still want her to be happy. In fact, now I have a better relationship with her. She has entered my bloodstream. I have two auras — one is mine, the other is my mother’s".

He says, he joined films in 1985 only to please her, and it is only with her blessings that he has been able to make a success of his life. The going has been tough though — with major disappointments, struggle for recognition and once, a nervous breakdown due to overwork.

"At one stage, signing 70 films was more of an achievement than being a Hrithik Roshan of today or the Amitabh Bachchan at his prime. I come from a middle-class family. Reaching here is more than what I had ever aspired for," he adds. — MF

BOLLYWOOD BUZZ

His papa’s son

He’s no Hrithik Roshan or Fardeen Khan. In fact as far as looks go, he is neither Jimmy Shergill, nor Arjun Rampal.Which must make Tusshar a very nervous young man specially since his first film, ‘Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai’ is heavily tilted in favour of Kareena Kapoor.

So why are the ‘industrywallahs’ so excited about this starson? Don’t forget, he’s the son of Jeetendra and brother of Ekta Kapoor — two of the grittiest people in showbiz.

Many old-timers remember that Jeetendra, too, surprised all doomsayers when his movies began digging gold at the box office. And to say nothing of sister Ekta Kapoor who hit big time in 1995 with ‘Hum Paanch’ after a number flops. And now her Balajee Telefilms is planning a movie with Tusshar in the lead.

Since she’s the girl with the Midas Touch, stay tuned. Regardless of how ‘Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai’ fares at the box office this won’t be the last you’ve heard of Tusshar!

Take one look at the unglamorous Raveena in ‘Shool’ and ‘Daman.’ Then rewind a couple of years and think of the girl jiggling to ‘Kisi hotel mein jayen’...and ‘ankhiyon se goli mare’...Same girl? Nah...never. Raveena says those frivolous roles are now a thing of the past, especially after her national award in ‘Daman.’

Does that mean she won’t be doing any more films with Govinda? "Of course I will be," the lady informs, "but they’ll be different." Gossip has it that Raveena has persuaded Govinda to sign ‘Humko To Bus Aap Chahiye.’

Persuaded? Why? Because she is not the lead star. The girl opposite Govinda is Sonali Bendre. And Raveena plays the negative role a la Urmila in ‘Kaun’ and ‘Pyar Tune Kya Kiya’.

And no prizes for guessing who’s feeling the jitters with Raveena chasing serious roles. It’s Tabu who till some time back had made it her forte to do such roles. Two’s surely not company where Raveena and Tabu are concerned.

God! The hysteria. Hrithik Roshan must be wondering what he did in previous life to deserve such adulation. There’s a virtual stampede wherever he goes and it’s near-impossible to keep things in control. Even those who are known — and expected — to keep their emotions in check seem to go berserk on seeing the star.

As it happened recently at Mumbai’s Santacruz airport where Hrithik was taking a flight to Ahemadabad by one of the private airlines. The airlines asked its airport manager to put an airhostess on duty who would escort Hrithik to the plane.

When the hostesses came to know of the star passenger, all of them wanted the assignment and all hell broke loose as they began fighting in full public view. Such was the pell-mell that Hrithik was whisked onto the tarmac in his car cutting short the quarrel which threatened to escalate into a war! — NF