The veteran actor Govinda is one of the most popular actors of Bollywood and he is loved especially for his comic timing and dancing skills but he is also known for his habit of coming late on sets and here we will let you know about one such incident.
Actor Shehzad Khan, who starred alongside Govinda in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, recently recounted one of many instances highlighting Govinda’s well-known habit of arriving late on sets. While filming at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, Govinda informed director David Dhawan that he needed to pick up his wife from the airport. Though the airport wasn’t nearby, David Dhawan allowed it, expecting him to return soon. However, to everyone’s surprise, Govinda did not come back that day. By evening, he called David from Mumbai and mentioned he’d return the next day — only to reappear on the set four days later.
Despite the unexpected absence, Shehzad Khan praised David Dhawan’s professionalism and adaptability. He noted that the director managed to keep the production moving smoothly, even in the leading man’s absence, without letting the disruption derail the shoot.
Govinda’s delays were not a secret in the industry and director Anees Bazmee also spoke about it in an interview some time back. He remarked that he was never surprised when Govinda showed up hours late; in fact, it would be more shocking if he arrived on time. Anees Bazmee shared that for a 9 a.m. shoot, he planned his workday knowing the actor wouldn’t arrive before noon. According to him, managing such unpredictability required establishing a strong rapport with the actor and staying flexible.
Govinda himself once addressed his tendency to be late. He likened his preparation for a shoot to that of a musician before a performance — needing time to warm up and get into the right mindset. He was also juggling an intense workload at the time, working on as many as 49 films simultaneously. The physical and mental toll was immense and veteran actor Dilip Kumar had advised him to prioritize his health and not stretch himself too thin.
These reflections from co-stars and directors reveal the behind-the-scenes realities of working with one of the most charismatic yet unpredictable stars of Bollywood — Govinda.
