Govinda, once a reigning superstar of Bollywood, claimed that the film industry conspired to sabotage his career. His longtime collaborator and veteran producer Pahlaj Nihalani shares his thoughts on these allegations, shedding light on the challenges Govinda has faced, the controversies surrounding his films, and what he believes is holding the actor back from reclaiming his lost stardom. In this candid conversation with ETimes, Nihalani addresses the pressures exerted on distributors, the fallout from ‘Rangila Raja,’ and the much-discussed claim about James Cameron’s ‘Avatar.’ He also reflects on Govinda’s undeniable talent, his enduring fan base, and the need for him to surround himself with the right people.
Govinda has alleged that the film industry conspired to sabotage his career. What are your thoughts on this?
Govinda needs to distance himself from those who are advising him. That being said, he is not entirely wrong. There have been attempts in the past to undermine his films. Rangila Raja, which I produced with Govinda in the lead in 2019, faced severe setbacks. After a press conference where Govinda named prominent industry figures whom he believed had harmed his career, most shows of the film were canceled. That very night, distributors called me and withdrew from Rangila Raja, stating they were under pressure to do so. This led to a total loss. We had invested crores in marketing, and as a result of that controversy, we have been unable to sell Rangila Raja on any OTT platform.
Govinda may have faced unfair treatment, but does that necessarily mean the entire industry is against him?
Of course, ups and downs are part of life. One must accept and face them. Life is a gift from God, and we must live it as He wills. When things are good, we should embrace them; when they are bad, we must endure them.
That being said, Govinda remains a major crowd-puller. His acting career has been affected for years, but he possesses significant assets. However, his greatest asset is his talent. If he truly wishes to reclaim his position at the top, he can do so effortlessly. His stardom remains intact, and his fan base is unwavering. He serves as the bridge between Amitabh Bachchan’s generation and Shah Rukh Khan’s. But he needs to detach himself from those who misguide him. Constantly surrounding oneself with Pundits and astrologers is not the right way to navigate a career in cinema.
What is the truth behind Govinda’s claim that James Cameron had offered him Avatar, and he turned it down?
I had launched a film called Avatar with Govinda, but it had no connection to James Cameron’s Avatar. We completed about forty percent of the film.
What happened to that project?
Govinda advised me to scrap Avatar and work on something else instead. We eventually made Rangila Raja. This is the only time I went against my instincts, and I regret that decision to this day. Avatar had a powerful storyline centered around a youth leader against the backdrop of a football game.
What exactly went wrong with Avatar?
Govinda had already completed forty-five minutes of dialogue scenes and was in the middle of shooting a song. However, one morning, he was unwell, and things never progressed after that. I don’t want to say anything more on this matter.But I will reiterate: Govinda is one of the finest actors we have. Unfortunately, people are hesitant to sign him. This has happened with three or four producers who were interested in casting him but ultimately backed out due to concerns about his approach and attitude.
