Every nook and corner of B-town are currently echoing with the controversial statements Govinda has made during his many explosive interviews revealing the dark reality of the otherwise glitzy-looking industry. In an exclusive chat with us, the 90s shining star branded his Hero No.1 director David Dhawan as âthe jealous kindâ as he spoke out on his fallout with the filmmaker.
Govinda also slammed Karan Johar for scheduling the release of Badrinath Ki Dulhania only after a week’s gap of his comeback film Aa Gaya Hero and called KJo âmore dangerous and jealousâ than David Dhawan. While these damning interviews might come as a surprise to some, the actor has always been this unrestrained be it be talking about his professional or about his personal life and this 1990 interview of him with Stardust speaking on why he couldnât marry Neelam is a proof.
Here are some excerpts from his shocking interview:
âShe was the kind of woman any man would have lost his heart to. I lost mine,â Govinda about love at first sight
Confessing being head over heels in love with his Ilzaam co-star Govinda revealed, âI remember the first time I met her. At Pranlal Mehtaâs office. She was wearing white shorts. Her long hair falling straight, like an angelâs. âHelloâ she said politely, and I was scared to reply because my knowledge of English was embarrassing. It still is. And I wondered how I would communicate with her on the sets. I had never imagined I would work with her. She was a distant dream. I had seen her in âJawaniâ, and seen the film again and again only to see her.â
Further speaking on how their relationship shaped in spite of he being committed to Sunita (his present wife) he added, âI was very conscious of her. Of the difference in our backgrounds and upbringing. But gradually, we crossed these obstacles, and I started opening up. I would play pranks, crack jokes and she would laugh. We became friends. And we had so many films together. We met so often and the more I got to know her, the more I liked her. There was dignity in her. A kind of piousness in her eyes.And strength of character. There was no vulgarity about her, no loudness. She was the kind of woman any man would have lost his heart to. I lost mine.â
âI had never meant to get so seriously involved,â on his relationship with wife Sunita
In a no-holds-barred interview with the magazine, Chi Chi as he is lovingly called admitted that he never intended to take his relationship with Sunita seriously. Says Govinda, âI had never meant to get so seriously involved with Sunita. I was looking for a girl to go around with. I had signed a few films by then, and one day, my elder brother Kirti came to visit me on my sets. I had to do a romantic scene, but couldnât bring myself to do it. I felt very uncomfortable and awkward holding a girl in my arms. So, later, my brother told me, âWhy donât you have an affair just to get some experience of romance? Youâll at least, learn how to hold a girl in your armsâ. At that point in time, I met Sunita. I admit that my involvement with her was a totally calculated move on my part. And I paid a heavy price for it.â
âI realised too late that one neednât experience death to perform a death scene, similarly one neednât experience romance to perform romantic scenes. It came naturally, one only had to let oneself go. But the harm was done. I had already committed myself to Sunita. I am very impulsive,â he said.
âSunita said something about Neelam, and I lost my head and called it quits,â Govinda speaks on his obsession with the actress
The then 26-year-old Govinda disclosed how he was obsessed with Neelam and even called off his engagement with Sunita at one point. He reminisced, âAfter I started getting busier, my relationship with Sunita went through a change. She began feeling insecure and jealous. And I was of no help. She would nag me and I would lose my temper. We had constant fights. In one of those fights, Sunita said something about Neelam, and I lost my head and called it quits. I asked Sunita to leave me. I broke off my engagement with her. And had Sunita not called me after five days and coaxed me into it again, I would probably have married Neelam.â
âYes, I wanted to marry her. And I donât think thereâs anything wrong with that. I feel love and hatred are two emotions over which a man has no control. If you love somebody and they reciprocate, thereâs nothing one can do about it. It is instinctive. What is under our control is our sense of duty and commitment. Neelam was the ideal girl, the kind every man visualises for a life-partner. The kind of girl I wanted. But that was getting emotional. There was another practical side. Just because I had fallen in love elsewhere, I couldnât overlook my commitment towards Sunita. If there was no sense of duty in a man, this would go on. Leave one for another and another for another,â he unabashedly said.
âI did exploit my personal relationship with Neelam for professional ends. I played dirty with her,â regrets Govinda
Speaking of his marriage to Sunita, the Coolie No. 1 star said that he married her because his mother wanted so. He also stated that Neelam was ambitious and wanted a âhandsome and well-to-doâ man. On the other hand, he was a âdehati.â
Talking about the real bone of contention between them Govinda recalled, âBut there was always such a conflict going on in my mind. After meeting a girl like Neelam, any man is bound to lose his balance. I lost mine totally. I was so confused. I liked her tremendously. I was in love with her. I wanted to marry her. But I couldnât. And yet, I didnât want to let go. Even today, I feel jealous when I see her working with other actors. I wish she would start signing films with me again. If not anything, we could at least be friends.â
The actor who secretly married Sunita and hid it for almost a year explained, âI probably did not tell her (Neelam) because I did not want to break this successful screen pair. And to be honest, to a certain extent, I did exploit my personal relationship with Neelam for professional ends. I played dirty with her. I should have told her that I was married.â
âI will never deny my love and reverence for her,â Govinda professes his undying love for Neelam
Though the actor was then happily married and even had a daughter Narmada, he maintained he experienced the purest form of love for Neelam and iterated, ââŠItâs pure, simple love. Maybe there was nothing from her side. But I will never deny my love and reverence for her. I will always care for her. For me, it was love, not lust. Love in its purest form. I know she was too good for me. She probably deserves better. And I do wish her all the happiness in the world. The man she marries will be the luckiest man on this earth.â
âThere is a second marriage in my kundali,â the actor hopes to get involved again
Proclaiming that he is a firm believer of destiny, Govinda hoped to get involved again and elaborated, âTomorrow, who knows, I may get involved again, and then, maybe I will marry the girl I get involved with. But Sunita should be prepared for it. Only then will I feel free. And there is a second marriage in my kundali … What has to happen, will happen. Yes, I like Juhi a lot. Even Divya Bharati. Divya is a very sensuous girl. Itâs difficult for a man to resist her. I know Sunita is going to be very upset with all this. But she should know that I am still resisting Divyaâs charms. I havenât given in to the temptation as yetâŠâ
