Veteran actress Himani Shivpuri, a beloved face in Indian cinema, has opened up about her illustrious career, fondly remembering her time working with the iconic star Govinda. With a filmography that spans cult classic Bollywood comedies from the 1990s to critically acclaimed art house projects, Shivpuri has established a unique space for herself through her powerful character roles alongside legends like Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.
The Hilarious Airport Incident
In a candid conversation, Shivpuri narrated a humorous story that perfectly encapsulates Govinda's well-known reputation for being late. The incident occurred during the filming of a project produced by Aruna Irani and directed by her husband, Kuku Kohli. The team was scheduled to fly to Hyderabad for a shoot.
"I had reached the airport, Raveena had reached the airport, Aruna Ji was there, and Kuku Kohli was there. And Chichi (Govinda) was also supposed to come because we had a shooting the next day," Shivpuri recalled. However, the actor was conspicuously absent. With growing concern, Aruna Irani finally made a decisive move. She sent the rest of the team ahead and personally went to Govinda's house to fetch him, successfully ensuring he made it to the set.
On-Set Brilliance in Switzerland
Shivpuri also shared memories from the sets of their hit film 'Hero No 1', which was shot in Switzerland. She acknowledged that director David Dhawan would often be frustrated by Govinda's delayed arrivals. But she was quick to highlight the actor's unparalleled talent once he was on set.
"Once he used to come on the set, he was amazing and brilliant, and we had a wonderful time," she said. She praised his incredible improvisational skills, a talent she shares, which made their collaborative scenes a joy to film and a success on screen.
A Collaborative 90s Era and the Need for Reinvention
The duo shared the screen in numerous blockbuster comedies during the 1990s, including popular titles like 'Deewana Mastana', 'Hadh Kar Di Aapne', and 'Anari No 1'. Reflecting on Govinda's career trajectory, Shivpuri expressed sadness over his struggles to make a major comeback.
She described him as a "brilliant actor" and a "wonderful dancer" who had also proven his mettle in serious roles. However, she pointed out a key challenge for any long-lasting career in Bollywood. "I think he couldn't reinvent himself, which is so sad... The public's memory is quite fickle and they get bored with seeing the same thing. You can't keep doing that. So an actor has to reinvent himself all the time to survive for a longer period," Shivpuri wisely concluded, highlighting the ever-evolving nature of the film industry.
