Govinda (actor)

Govinda Arun Ahuja (born 21 December 1963), is an Indian actor-turned-politician, who has appeared in more than 120 Hindi-language films. A leading actor throughout 1990s, he is known for his slapstick performances and dancing skills. He has received 12 Filmfare Award nominations and won two Filmfare Special Awards and one Filmfare Award for Best Comedian.

Starting out as an action and dancing hero in the 1980s, his first film was 1986's Love 86, which turned out to be a profitable venture at the box office. He then appeared in subsequent commercial successes, including Ilzaam (1986), Marte Dam Tak (1987), Khudgarz (1987), Sindoor (1987), Dadagiri (1987), Dariya Dil (1988), Hatya (1988), Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni (1989), Swarg (1990) and Hum (1991). However, Govinda would go on to reinvent himself as a comic hero in the 1990s after his role as a mischievous young NCC cadet in the 1992 romance Shola Aur Shabnam and 1993 action comedy Aankhen, both of which were huge hits. Following the success of these films, Govinda had lead roles in top-grossing films, almost, like Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Hero No. 1 (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Dulhe Raja (1998), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Haseena Maan Jayegi (1999), Hadh Kar Di Aapne (2000) and Jodi No. 1 (2001). He won the Filmfare Special Award for Saajan Chale Sasural and the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for Haseena Maan Jaayegi.

After a series of several unsuccessful films in the 2000s, his later commercial hits include Bhagam Bhag (2006), Partner (2007), and Holiday (2014), none of which where he was the solo male lead. In 2015, Govinda became a judge on Zee TV's reality show, Dance India Dance Super Moms.

Govinda was a member of the Parliament of India from 2004 to 2009. As the Indian National Congress party member, he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) form the Mumbai North constituency of Maharashtra, India in the Lok Sabha elections of 2004. In 2024, just before the Lok Sabha elections, he joined Shiv Sena.

Govinda was born on 21 December 1963 to former actor Aroon (alias Arun Kumar Ahuja) and singer-actress Nirmala Devi. He belongs to an ethnically mixed family, as, through his father, his grandfather was Punjabi while his grandmother was Sindhi, and he himself identifies more with his Punjabi side.

Govinda's father Aroon hailed from Gujranwala, Punjab which is now in Punjab, Pakistan while his mother was from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. His father came to Mumbai to become an actor in the late 1930s. He is best known for appearing in Mehboob Khan's Aurat (1940). Aroon's professional career as an actor lasted for 15 years, from 1939 to 1954. In these years, he worked as a hero in 30 films. He produced one unsuccessful film which caused financial loss. The family, living in a bungalow on Mumbai's Carter Road, moved to Virar, a northern Mumbai suburb, where Govinda was born. The youngest of 5 children, he was given the pet name "Chi Chi," meaning "little finger" in Punjabi.

After Govinda received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Vartak College, Vasai, his father suggested a career in films. Around this time, Govinda saw the film Disco Dancer (1982); afterward, he practised for hours and circulated a promotional VHS cassette. He was offered jobs in a fertiliser commercial and an Allwyn ad.

He was offered the role of Abhimanyu in the popular mythological serial Mahabharat (1988) during its casting and he even had auditioned for it. Soon he bagged his first Bollywood project. His first lead role was in Tan-Badan (1986) opposite Khushbu, directed by his uncle Anand. Govinda began shooting for his next film, Love 86, in June 1985. His first release was Ilzaam (1986), followed by Love 86 that same year, both of which emerged as commercial successes.