Veteran producer Pahlaj Nihalani has made startling claims regarding Govinda's career, alleging that the actor was sabotaged by certain individuals in Bollywood after the success of the film Partner, which also starred Salman Khan.
Govinda, a superstar in the 1990s known for his impeccable comic timing and dance moves, saw a decline in his career in the 2000s, despite a comeback attempt with Partner. Nihalani, who has worked with Govinda in several films like Ilzaam, Shola Aur Shabnam, and Aankhen, revealed in a recent interview that people around Govinda actively worked to destroy his career. He stated that after Partner, Govinda stopped getting film offers, and several of his big projects, including one with Priyanka Chopra, were abruptly cancelled.
Nihalani refuted rumors about Govinda being unprofessional, stating that the actor was always punctual and had even shot for him as early as 6 am. He also echoed Sunita Ahuja's sentiment that the industry can be transactional and doesn't always support its own when things get tough. Nihalani emphasized that it wasn't just his assumption that people wanted to ruin Govinda's career but a reality. He highlighted that after Rangeela Raja, many top producers inquired whether Govinda had ever annoyed him, which he denied.
Nihalani didn't shy away from criticizing the Bollywood industry, stating that there are no real friends and that it’s a selfish space where people celebrate the downfall of others. "If someone's film flops, people throw parties," he said.
In another interview, Nihalani accused filmmaker David Dhawan of poisoning Govinda against him and attributed Govinda's career downfall to the company of 'pandits' (astrologers, fortune tellers) he kept. He called Govinda "nasamajh" (naive), explaining that while Dhawan wanted only Govinda for his role in Partner, Dhawan and Salman Khan created the impression that they were doing Govinda a favor by casting him, knowing that Govinda would get emotional due to his trusting nature.
Govinda and David Dhawan were frequent collaborators, delivering numerous iconic films. However, their relationship soured, with Partner (2007) being their last collaboration.
