Govinda (actor)

Govinda
Govinda in 2018
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
2004–2009
Preceded byRam Naik
Succeeded bySanjay Nirupam
ConstituencyMumbai North
Personal details
Born
Govind Arun Ahuja

(1963-12-21) 21 December 1963 (age 60)[1][2][3]
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Political partyShiv Sena (2024–present)
Other political
affiliations		Indian National Congress (2004–2009) [4][5]
Spouse
Sunita Ahuja
​
(m. 1987)​
Children2
Parent(s)Arun Kumar Ahuja (father)
Nirmala Devi (mother)
RelativesSee Govinda family[6]
Occupation
  • Actor
  • politician
Years active1986–2019 (actor)
2004–present (politician)

Govinda (born 21 December 1963) is an Indian actor and politician, who has appeared in more than 165 Hindi-language films. A leading actor throughout 90s, he is known for his slapstick performances and dancing skills. He has received 12 Filmfare Award nominations and won two Filmfare Special Awards and one Filmfare Award for Best Comedian. In June 1999, he was voted the tenth-greatest star of stage or screen in last thousand years by BBC News Online poll.[7]

Starting out as an action and dancing hero in the 1980s, his first film was 1986's Love 86, which turned out to be a hit. He then appeared in subsequent hits including Ilzaam (1986), Marte Dam Tak (1987), Khudgarz (1987), Dariya Dil (1988), Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni (1989), Swarg (1990) and Hum (1991). However, Govinda would go on to reinvent himself as a comic hero in the 1990s after his role as a mischievous young NCC cadet in the 1992 romance Shola Aur Shabnam and 1993 action comedy Aankhen in which he played dual role. Following the success of these films, Govinda had lead roles in several commercially successful comedy films, like Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Hero No. 1 (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Dulhe Raja (1998), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Anari No.1 (1999), Haseena Maan Jayegi (1999) and Jodi No. 1 (2001). He won the Filmfare Special Award for Saajan Chale Sasural and the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for Haseena Maan Jaayegi.

After a series of several unsuccessful films in the 2000s, his later commercial hits include Bhagam Bhag (2006), Partner (2007), and Holiday (2014). In 2015, Govinda became a judge on Zee TV's reality show, Dance India Dance Super Moms.[8][9][10]

Govinda was a member of the Parliament of India from 2004 to 2009. As the Indian National Congress party member, he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) form the Mumbai North constituency of Maharashtra, India in the Lok Sabha elections of 2004.[11] In 2024, just before the Lok Sabha elections, he joined Shivsena.[12]

  1. ^ K. Jha, Subhash (21 December 2013). "Govinda turns 50". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 23 December 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Birthday special quiz: How well do you know Govinda?". Mid-Day. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  3. ^ Sharma, Dhriti (21 December 2014). "'Hero No 1' Govinda turns 51!". Zee News. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Popular Bollywood Star Govinda Joins Congress". 16 July 2022. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Govinda decides to quit politics". The Times of India. 20 January 2008.
  6. ^ Govinda wants to see his niece Ragini Khanna's Punjabi film. Mid-day.com (24 October 2013). Retrieved on 14 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Bollywood star tops the poll". BBC News. 1 July 1999. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Govinda makes comeback on telly". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 17 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Making a TV comeback: Govinda returns with DID Super Moms". Archived from the original on 1 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Dance India Dance Super Moms Season 2 first episode review: Govinda comes back to TV; makes a grand entry as dancing judge". Archived from the original on 5 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Govinda the MP seen seldom in House, constituency". Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).