Govinda, a superstar of 90s Bollywood known for his comedic timing and dance moves, is also known for having rejected several roles that later became iconic for other actors. One such role was Tara Singh in the blockbuster film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, which ultimately became Sunny Deol's biggest hit.

According to Govinda, he was offered the lead role in Gadar but turned it down because of the film's "excessive use of swear words" and its political nature. In a 2019 interview, Govinda stated that the script contained a lot of "abuses" and he wasn't comfortable with the violent and controversial dialogues. He also mentioned that his mother had advised him to avoid roles that would tarnish his image as a beloved, family-friendly star. Govinda said his mother wanted him to keep dancing and smiling, which was the Govinda the public loved.

However, director Anil Sharma has a different perspective. He maintains that Govinda was never formally offered the role. Sharma recalls narrating the story of Gadar to Govinda while they were working together on the 1998 film Maharaja. According to Sharma, Govinda expressed his inability to do the film due to its sensitive portrayal of Hindu-Muslim conflicts. Sharma clarified that he had already narrated the story to Sunny Deol and intended to cast him as the lead, as he wanted a Punjabi hero for the role.

Whether it was due to the abusive language, political themes, or simply a misunderstanding, Govinda's rejection paved the way for Sunny Deol to take on the role of Tara Singh. Deol's portrayal of the character resonated with audiences, and the film became a massive success, solidifying his position as a leading action star. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, set against the backdrop of the Partition of India in 1947, tells the story of Tara Singh, a Sikh truck driver, who falls in love with Sakina, a Muslim girl from a political family. The film follows Tara's journey to Pakistan to rescue Sakina after she is forced to stay there. Ameesha Patel played Sakina, with Amrish Puri as Sakina's father.

Gadar went on to become a historic blockbuster, and Sunny Deol recently made a successful comeback with its sequel, Gadar 2. The sequel follows Tara Singh's journey across the Pakistan border during the 1971 conflict to rescue his son.

Gadar isn't the only film that Govinda reportedly turned down. Other notable films he allegedly rejected include Chandni, Taal, Devdas, and Slumdog Millionaire. He was also offered a role in BR Chopra's Mahabharata. Govinda's reasons for rejecting these films varied from disliking the title (Taal) to not wanting to play a character role (Devdas) or a physically challenged character (Chandni).

While it's impossible to say how Gadar would have fared with Govinda in the lead, the film's success with Sunny Deol is undeniable. It remains one of the biggest blockbusters in Bollywood history and a career-defining role for Deol.