Before he became the beloved 'Hero No. 1' of millions, Govinda's entry into the glittering world of Hindi cinema was paved with relentless struggle and a single, pivotal homemade video cassette. In a nostalgic throwback interview, the iconic actor peeled back the layers of glamour to recount the humble beginnings of his career, which officially started with the film 'Tan-Badan' in 1986.
The Long Struggle Before The Spotlight
Govinda's journey to the silver screen was far from easy. In a candid conversation with Lehren Retro, the actor shared that 'Tan-Badan' was his first signed film, a project that came after months of hardship. "Meri pehli film thi Tan-Badan aur woh mujhe aise mili ki main Virar se teen-chaar mahina struggle karta tha," he recalled, highlighting the gruelling commute from Virar that eventually forced him to move to Khar to live with his maternal uncle (mama ji).
The turning point arrived unexpectedly. While standing outside with a friend, enjoying a paan, he was spotted by Mr. Gufi Paintal from the B.R. Chopra camp. Paintal took the young aspirant to the B.R. Chopra office, where Govinda performed in a sponsored programme. Despite being a complete newcomer, he impressed everyone by delivering his shots perfectly in a single take.
The Game-Changing Homemade Video Cassette
However, Govinda quickly realized that first impressions in the industry were often superficial. People would say, "Yaar theek hai, dekhne mein theek hai, height bhi theek hai, voice bhi theek hai," but no concrete offers materialized. Determined to take control of his destiny, Govinda decided to showcase his full potential.
He enrolled at the Roshan Institute for action training and learned dance under the legendary choreographer Saroj Khan. He then compiled his newly honed skills into a self-made video cassette. This cassette became the key to changing minds. Notably, filmmaker Ismail Shroff, who had earlier dismissed Govinda saying, "Nahi yaar, isme toh na iski height hai, na personality hai, na voice hai," completely reversed his opinion after watching the tape.
How 'Tan-Badan' Finally Went On Floors
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when Govinda showed the cassette to his mama ji, Anand Singh, who was a director planning a new film at the time. The screening altered everything. His uncle was so impressed that he decided to rewrite the film's subject and casting to launch Govinda.
Recalling the life-changing moment of confirmation, Govinda said, "Mujhe yaad hai raat ko kuch 7:30 baje hue the… unhone bola ki, 'Humne ladka select kar liya hai.'" Directed by Anand Singh, 'Tan-Badan' starred Khushbu and Viju Khote alongside Govinda. Interestingly, while 'Tan-Badan' was his first signed project, two other films, 'Love 86' and 'Ilzaam', managed to release in theatres earlier.
This marked the beginning of an extraordinary career that would see Govinda rise to become one of Hindi cinema's most iconic and adored entertainers, proving that sometimes, you have to create your own opportunity to be seen.
