GOVINDA TURNS 47 TODAY

Today BOLLYWOOD COMEDIAN actor, GOVINDA turns 47 who born on  21st December 1963 is a Filmfare award-winning Indian actor and politician. He has appeared in over 120 Hindi language films. At the start of his career, his acting and dancing skills gained him widespread attention among film viewers. He later gained worldwide fame as a Bollywood icon through comedy films such as Shola Aur Shabnam, Aankhen, Coolie No.1, Haseena Maan Jaayegi and Partner.

He was a member of the Indian National Congress Party. He was elected as the seventh Member of  Parliament for the Mumbai North Constituency of Maharashtra, India in the 14th Lok Sabha elections in 2004, after defeating Ram Naik of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the 2009 General Elections, he opted out of politics to concentrate more on films. However he continues to have political favor from Congress Party. His constituency was succeeded by Sanjay Nirupam (also from Congress).

In June 1999, Govinda was voted as the tenth greatest star of stage or screen of the last thousand years by BBC News Online users.

EARLY LIFE:-

Govinda’s father, Arun Kumar Ahuja, was born in pre-partition Gujranwala, Punjab (now in Pakistan) on January 26, 1917. He studied in an engineering college at Lahore. Veteran producer Mehboob Khan brought him to Mumbai in 1937 and cast him in Ek Hi Raasta as the leading man. Arun was notable for acting in Mehboob Khan's Aurat (1940). Govinda's mother, Nazeem who was Muslim had converted to Hinduism and adopted the name Nirmala Devi.Arun and Nirmala first met during the making of the film Savera, in which they were cast opposite each other. They married in 1941.

The only film Ahuja ever produced was a flop. Unable to bear the loss, his health failed. The family, living in a bungalow on Mumbai's upmarket Carter Road, was forced to move to Virar — a far flung semi-rural  Mumbai suburb, where Govinda was born. The youngest of six children, his pet name Chi Chi means little finger in Punjabi, the language they speak at home. Since his father was unable to work, Nirmala Devi brought up the children through hard times in Mumbai.

ACTING CAREER:-

He studied at Annasahb Vartak College in Vasai, Maharashtra. He graduated in commerce, but failed to find a job. He was not considered for a steward's position at the Taj Mahal hotel, because his English wasn't good enough. His father suggested films. Around this time, Govinda saw the film Saturday Night Fever and dance became his obsession. He practiced for hours and circulated a promo of himself on a VHS cassette. Soon a fertilizer commercial came his way, followed by an Allwyn ad, finally his very first leading role in Tan Badan, which was to be directed by his uncle Anand. He started shooting for his next film Love 86 in June 1985. By mid-July, he had signed 40 others.

His first released film was Ilzaam (1986), a box office success and the fifth biggest hit of 1986. The film established him as a dancing star. He acted in a string of movies after that with mixed success. Most of the films he appeared in during the 1980s were in the action, romance or family drama genres. He was often paired opposite actress Neelam and together they appeared in several hit films such as, Love 86 (1986), Khudgarz (1987) and his brother Kirti Kumar's directed, Hatya (1988). He had success with family drama films such as Dariya Dil (1988), Jeete Hain Shaan Se (1988) and Hum (1991) as well as action films such as Marte Dam Tak (1987) and Jung Baaz (1989). He worked with David Dhawan for the first time in the 1989 action film Taaqatwar. He also worked with Rajini Kanth and Sridevi in a hit film that year titled, Ghair Khanooni.

Govinda appeared in several successful films in the 1990s. In 1992, he was seen in the critically acclaimed film, Zulm Ki Hukumat, an Indian remake of The Godfather where his performance was appreciated. He then formed a successful collaboration with David Dhawan and went onto act in 17 movies directed by him most of which were comedy films. The most successful films made by their collaboration include, Shola Aur Shabnam (1992), Aankhen (1993), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Hero No. 1 (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Anari No.1 (1999) and Jodi No. 1 (2001). Dhawan and other directors frequently cast him opposite actresses such as Divya Bharati, Karishma Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, and Raveena Tandon during the 1990s.

His box office graph suffered a setback in the early 2000s following a series of commercially unsuccessful films. He played the role of a villain for the first time in his career in Shikari (2000). Although the movie was not a commercial success, Govinda's convincing portrayal of a sociopath murderer was critically acclaimed. He turned down roles in Taal, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Devdas which went on to become successful films.His acting career was further affected when he contested and won the seat for Member of Parliament from Mumbai North in the 2004 parliamentary elections. He did not have any new film releases in 2004 and 2005 although some of his delayed films such as Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen (2005) and his own home production Ssukh (2005) were released but resulted in box office disasters.

Govinda made a comeback to films in late 2006 with the comedy film, Bhagam Bhag, alongside Akshay Kumar which became a hit. His first release of 2007 was the huge multi-starrer Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love. Although a box office disappointment, Govinda was praised for his performance.

His second release of 2007 was the David Dhawan directed comedy, Partner, which co-starred Salman Khan. The film grossed Rs. 300 Million in India on its opening week, the second highest domestic opening week gross for an Indian film until then.In 2008, he appeared in the film, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai. The same year, Salman Khan invited David Dhawan and Govinda on his show Dus Ka Dum to celebrate the success of their film Partner. In 2009, he had a successful release titled Life Partner. Govinda got back to the successful trio of David Dhawan, Vashu Bhagnani and himself with the film, Do Knot Disturb, which flopped at the box office.

In 2010, Govinda was seen in Mani Ratnam's bilingual project, Raavan, along with Vikram, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. Govinda played a forest officer who takes Vikram's character through the forests in search of a wanted criminal. While it was earlier speculated that his character was a contemporary version of Hanuman, Govinda refuted the claim.Despite having a small role in the film, Govinda was appreciated for his performance.

PERSONAL LIFE:-

Govinda's father Arun Ahuja was an actor in the 1940s and his mother Nirmala Ahuja was also an actress as well as a singer. His brother, Kirti Kumar is an actor, producer and director. His sister, Kaamini Khanna is a writer, music director, singer, anchor and founder of 'Beauty with Astrology'. Govinda has six nephews and two nieces in the entertainment industry: actors Vinay Anand, Krushna Abhishek, Aryan, Arjun Singh, Ragini Khanna, Amit Khanna, Aarti Singh and director Janmendra Kumar Ahuja. Govinda's brother-in-law, Devendra Sharma has also acted in a few Hindi films.

Govinda's maternal uncle Anand Singh, who was assistant to director Hrishikesh Mukherjee, launched him in his film, Tan Badan. Anand Singh's wife's younger sister Sunita fell in love with Govinda during the 'Mahurat' of Tan Badan. They got married on 11 March 1987. Their marriage was a closely guarded secret for the initial four years.

The couple now have two children, Narmada and Yashvardhan. Govinda narrowly escaped death on 5 January 1994 while traveling to a studio for the shooting of Khuddar (1994), the actor's car collided with another car, resulting in him sustaining injuries to his head. Though bleeding profusely, Govinda did not cancel the shooting. After visiting a doctor, he shot for the film till midnight.

AWARDS:-

FILMFARE AWARDS:-

WINNER:

1997 - Filmfare Special Award for Saajan Chale Sasural
1999 - Filmfare Best Comedian Award, Haseena Maan Jaayegi

NOMINATED:

1994 - Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Aankhen
1996 - Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Coolie No. 1
1997 - Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Saajan Chale Sasural
1998 - Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Deewana Mastana
1999 - Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan
2000 - Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role for - Haseena Maan Jaayegi
2000 - Filmfare Best Villain Award forShikari
2001 - Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role for Kunwara
2002 - Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role for Jodi No.1
2002 - Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role for Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta
2003 - Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role for Akhiyon Se Goli Maare

OTHER AWARDS:-

WINNER:

1995 - Star Screen Award Special Jury Award for Coolie No. 1
1998 - Lux Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for Dulhe Raja
1998 - Special Videocon Screen award from Jury for overall performance
1999 - Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan
2000 - Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for Haseena Maan Jaayegi
2002 - IIFA Best Comedian Award for Jodi No. 1
2007 - "Excellent Comic Actor" Award at the Star Gold Comedy Honors
2007 - Most Stylish Comeback Award at the MTV Lycra Style Awards
2008 - Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards, "NDTV Imagine Best Jodi of the Year 2007" along with Salman Khan.
2008 - Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Male for Partner2008 - IIFA Best Comedian Award for Partner.