Director David Dhawan and actor Govinda’s partnership was almost ideal in the 1990s. The two worked together in about 17 films and most of them were big hits. In a recent conversation, David recalled the time when he worked with Govinda and said that he was the only person who could “handle” the actor. David was also asked about Govinda’s delay and the director, without divulging much, said that his work was always done.He also revealed how Salman Khan was not “keen” to work in Partners and Anil Kapoor felt a bit insecure because of Govinda and David’s bond.
In a conversation with Bollywood Bubble, David said that Govinda was the ‘king of improvisation’, which helped him. Both of them worked together in many films like Raja Babu, Coolie No. 1, Hero No. 1, Aankhen, Saajan Chale Sasural. He also shared that he had a “special language” that he used to communicate on set if a scene was not working as planned. “I would say ‘Rabar hai scene, lamba, khinch hua hai’. Govinda would say, ‘David, I give the entire scene in one shot’,” he recalled.
Talking further about their working relationship, David said, “I was the only one who could handle her. He has always given me a lot of respect.” When asked whether Govinda used to come late to the sets of David, the director said, “My work was over.”
David then talked about working with Salman and Govinda in Partners and recalled that he had a conversation with producer Sohail Khan about casting them. “I said ‘Can we have Govinda and Salman bhai?’ He said, very good, went to Salman Bhai, he was not very keen, I told him, ‘Come on man, let’s do this, it would be great.’He then recalled another incident while shooting the film in Bangkok and said, “Salman told me one day, when we were shooting in Bangkok, he said ‘David yaar, fighting it… is no use. “
He also recalled working with Anil Kapoor and Govinda in Deewana Mastana and said, “Anil Kapoor was a very hard-working actor. Govinda was like butter.” He also said, “Anil used to be a little worried. He used to say, ‘Both of you have done a lot of work together. I went on holidays, you did so much shooting with Govinda behind my back. David last directed Coolie No. 1 with his son Varun in 2020.
David Dhawan says Salman Khan wasn’t ‘willing’ to partner with Govinda, responds to question on whether the Hero No. 1 actor used to come late to the sets
