Govinda, who is popularly known as ‘
Hero No. 1
’ of the 1990s, recently was in the news as he was admitted to the hospital due to a gunshot wound. Fortunately, he has since been discharged. Govinda‘s journey hasn’t always been spectacular, despite his fame. Looking back on a difficult period in his life, he recalled that there was a period when he was humiliated because his family was struggling to pay off debts and he couldn’t even purchase groceries.
During an old interview with India Today in 1997, Govinda talked candidly about a difficult time in his life when his family experienced financial difficulties.
He remembered being embarrassed by overdue debts and not being able to buy basic supplies. The actor shared how the local grocer would make him wait for hours, knowing he couldn’t pay for the groceries. He refused to go back to the shop because the situation had gotten so bad, which devastated his mother and left them both crying.
He shared, “The baniya used to make me stand for hours because he knew I wouldn’t pay for the goods. Once I refused to go to the shop anymore. My mother started crying and I cried with her.”
Govinda has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades for his outstanding work in the Hindi cinema industry. He had stated in that same interview that he hoped to win an Oscar, even if some people didn’t believe him. He shared, “People laugh. They say, ‘he can’t even speak English properly, what he’ll win an Oscar?’ But if from nothing I could become Govinda, surely from Govinda I can become something.”
After making his Bollywood debut in 1986 with ‘Love 86’, Govinda rose to prominence in the 1980s and 90s with a string of iconic films that included Haseena Maan Jaayegi, Aankhen, Raja Babu, Hero No 1, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, and Ilzaam. His journey is a testament to his resilience as he overcame severe hardships at a young age.
Even before he was born, his family was having financial difficulties, partly as a result of his father’s Arun Ahuja film’s poor box office performance. Nevertheless, Govinda never wavered from his goals, establishing a prosperous Bollywood career and motivating countless others with his inspirational tale of overcoming hardship.
On the personal front, Govinda is happily married to his childhood sweetheart, Sunita Ahuja. Since their March 11, 1987 wedding, the couple has faced numerous difficulties in their marriage. Despite the ups and downs, their dedication to each other has remained strong. They are proud parents to two children,
Tina Ahuja
and Yashvardan Ahuja.
