Govinda has always been one of the most vibrant and beloved entertainers of Bollywood, a performer whose comic timing, dance moves and effortless charm defined the 90s era of Hindi cinema. Known for classics like Hero No. 1, Coolie No. 1 and Saajan Chale Sasural, he became a symbol of joy and energy on screen.
Yet, behind his infectious smile and unmatched stardom, there have long been whispers about his supposed habit of being late to film sets, a tag that has followed him throughout his career. Recently, the actor addressed these allegations in a heartfelt conversation on a talk show, opening up about what really went on behind the scenes during his busiest years in Bollywood.
Govinda admitted that he was often labelled as someone who never showed up on time but he strongly believes that this perception was unfair. He explained that during the peak of his career, he was shooting for multiple films in a single day, managing as many as four to five shifts. According to him, it was simply impossible to maintain perfect punctuality when one was constantly moving from one set to another, juggling different productions and locations. He emphasised that instead of laziness or carelessness, it was overwork and exhaustion that sometimes caused minor delays.
He further added that many of these incidents were exaggerated by the film industry’s gossip circles, turning small delays into full-blown controversies. Govinda said that while he may have occasionally been late because of traffic, scheduling issues or waiting on technical departments, the stories about his tardiness were blown out of proportion. He believes that rather than trying to defame one another, people in the industry should show mutual respect and understanding for the demanding schedules actors endure.
In another recent interview, actor Rajat Bedi recalled a famous incident from the sets of Jodi No. 1, where Govinda’s delay reportedly made Sanjay Dutt wait for nearly nine hours. According to Rajat, neither the crew nor the director David Dhawan knew that Govinda was flying in from Hyderabad after wrapping another shoot. Sanjay Dutt, unaware of the situation, grew frustrated as hours passed, eventually asking for changes in the scene when he saw the length of his dialogues. But when Govinda finally arrived around 3 p.m., he reportedly finished shooting the entire sequence in just two hours with his usual brilliance and charm.
Despite the occasional chaos, Rajat spoke fondly of Govinda, calling him a “great human being” and a “true performer” who simply had too much on his plate at the height of his fame.
Govinda’s words and his colleagues’ recollections paint a clearer picture, not of a careless actor but of an overworked star trying to meet the impossible demands of a golden era in Bollywood.
