Pahlaj Nihalani shares what went wrong between him and Govinda: 'I introduced him, gave him work'

Pahlaj Nihalani, renowned for launching Govinda's acting career and delivering Bollywood hits like 'Shola Aur Shabnam' and 'Aankhen,' shared insights into his relationship with Govinda and filmmaker David Dhawan.

In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Pahlaj described Govinda as 'unpredictable' and revealed how, based on David Dhawan's advice, the actor shelved multiple projects with him as the producer. Pahlaj also claimed that David Dhawan relied on his support until achieving success.

Pahlaj criticized Govinda, describing him as gullible and superstitious. Despite producing several films with both Chunky Panday and Govinda in leading roles, he admitted to a strained relationship with Govinda. Pahlaj recounted an incident where Govinda failed to show up for the outdoor shoot of a film, leading to its cancellation and subsequent recasting with newcomers. This incident soured their relationship, contrasting with his continued closeness to Chunky Panday.



Pahlaj reminisced about his support for Govinda during challenging times. He recounted offering Govinda roles in his films whenever the actor faced difficulties. Nihalani highlighted instances like providing Govinda with opportunities in significant projects like 'Shola Aur Shabnam' and initiating the filming of 'Aankhen' within four days, despite lacking a director, to assist Govinda's career.




Ultimately, David Dhawan assumed the directorial duties for 'Aankhen.' Penned by Anees Bazmee, the film emerged as a box office success and ranked among the highest-grossing Indian films of 1993.

Pahlaj also revealed his strained relationship with David Dhawan, whom he once supported. According to him, Dhawan acted selfishly and manipulated Govinda, leading to conflicts. Pahlaj recounted an incident where Govinda failed to appear on the set of "Bhai Bhai," exacerbating their misunderstandings. He criticized Govinda's unpredictability and superstitions, attributing their disagreements to Dhawan's influence.



The filmmaker also disclosed that he had heard from several actors about David Dhawan's negative remarks concerning him. This implied a tactic of belittling others to advance oneself. Despite this, Pahlaj didn't feel compelled to confront Dhawan personally, as reliable friends and associates brought such information to him. He noted Dhawan's reliance on him during lean periods in his career, highlighting their collaboration on five films. Notably, Dhawan's successful films predominantly consisted of remakes, indicating a preference for established material over original content.