Govind Arun Ahuja (born 21 December 1963) is an Indian actor-turned-politician, who has appeared in more than 120 Hindi-language films. A leading actor throughout the late 1980s & 1990s, Govinda 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.
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 profitable venture at the box office. He then appeared in subsequent commercial successes, including Ilzaam (1986), Marte Dam Tak (1987), Khudgarz (1987), Sindoor (1987), Dariya Dil (1988), Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1988), Hatya (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, both of which were huge hits. Following the success of these films, Govinda had lead roles in top-grossing 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), Haseena Maan Jayegi (1999), Hadh Kar Di Aapne (2000) 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 unsuccessful films in the 2000s, his later commercial hits include Bhagam Bhag (2006), Partner (2007), and Holiday (2014), none of which had him as the solo male lead. In 2015, Govinda became a judge on Zee TV's reality show, Dance India Dance Super Moms.
Govinda was a member of the Parliament of India from 2004 to 2009. As the Indian National Congress party member, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Mumbai North constituency of Maharashtra, India in the Lok Sabha elections of 2004. In 2024, just before the Lok Sabha elections, he joined the Shiv Sena.
Govinda was born on 21 December 1963 to former actor Aroon (alias Arun Kumar Ahuja) and singer-actress Nirmala Devi. He belongs to an ethnically mixed family, as, through his father, his grandfather was Punjabi while his grandmother was Sindhi, and he himself identifies more with his Punjabi side.
Govinda's father Aroon hailed from Gujranwala, Punjab which is now in Punjab, Pakistan while his mother was a Bhojpuriya from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. His father came to Mumbai to become an actor in the late 1930s. He is best known for appearing in Mehboob Khan's Aurat (1940). Aroon's professional career as an actor lasted over 40 years, from 1939 to 1984. In these years, he worked as a hero in 30 films and in supporting roles in over a dozen films. He produced one unsuccessful film which caused financial loss. The family, living in a bungalow on Mumbai's Carter Road, moved to Virar, a city in northern Mumbai suburb, where Govinda was born. The youngest of 5 children, he was given the pet name "Chi Chi", meaning "little finger" in Punjabi.
After Govinda received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Vartak College, Vasai, his father suggested a career in films. Around this time, Govinda saw the film Disco Dancer (1982); afterward, he practised for hours and circulated a promotional VHS cassette. He was offered jobs in a fertiliser commercial and an Allwyn ad.
He was offered the role of Abhimanyu in the popular mythological serial Mahabharat (1988) during its casting and he even had auditioned for it. Soon he bagged his first Bollywood project. His first lead role was in Tan-Badan (1986) opposite Khushbu, directed by his uncle Anand. Govinda began shooting for his next film, Love 86, in June 1985. His first release was Ilzaam (1986), followed by Love 86 that same year, both of which emerged as commercial successes. Tan-Badan also emerged as a commercial hit.
He went on to star in many films of various genres between 1987 and 1989 including the family dramas Khudgarz (1987), Dariya Dil (1988), Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1988) and action and drama films including Hatya (1988), Marte Dam Tak (1987), Jeete Hain Shaan Se (1988) and Jung Baaz (1989). Govinda worked with David Dhawan for the first time in the 1989 action film Taaqatwar and worked with Rajinikanth and Sridevi in Gair Kanooni that same year. He was considered one of the top filmstars of Bollywood in the late 1980s.
In 1990, Govinda starred in the cult classic Awaargi, with Anil Kapoor and Meenakshi Sheshadri. Swarg and Maha-Sangram co-starring Vinod Khanna, Aditya Pancholi and Madhuri Dixit were also successful.
In 1991, he appeared alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikanth in the hit film Hum.
In 1992, he starred in David Dhawan's action romantic comedy film Shola Aur Shabnam opposite actress Divya Bharti. The film was a box office success and the fourth highest grossing film of 1992 and Govinda's portrayal of a mischievous youngster and NCC cadet gained much praise.
His successful collaboration with Dhawan continued with Aankhen, the highest-grossing film of 1993 and a super blockbuster. Govinda starred in the film in a dual role, alongside Chunky Panday. Aankhen was a blockbuster and established Govinda as a comic hero. Subsequently, he and Dhawan would make several successful comedy films throughout the decade. The film's soundtrack was also popular, particularly the song "Oh Lal Dupatte Wali" still remembered as a symbol of the 1990s Indian music.
In 1994, while Govinda had moderate success in action films such as Khuddar and Dulaara, the comedy film Raja Babu became a super hit. Govinda played the lead role of Raja, a wealthy villager, who falls in love with a girl but she rejects him upon learning about his background. Once again directed by David Dhawan, and starring alongside Karisma Kapoor, Shakti Kapoor, Kader Khan, Aruna Irani, and Prem Chopra, the cast received praise. Govinda's chemistry with Shakti Kapoor and Kader Khan is especially celebrated.
In 1995, Govinda starred in David Dhawan-directed Coolie No. 1, another super hit film. Featuring a cast of familiar actors Karisma Kapoor, Kader Khan, and Shakti Kapoor, along with Harish Kumar, Sadashiv Amrapurkar and Mahesh Anand, the film follows the story of Raju (Govinda), a coolie (labourer), who pretends to be a millionaire to marry an arrogant rich man's daughter, but he ends up falling in love with her. Govinda received the Star Screen Award Special Jury Award for his role in this movie as 'performer of the decade'. Over the years, it has become a cult classic. In 2020, Dhawan remade the film with the same name with his son Varun Dhawan, Sara Ali Khan and Paresh Rawal. In the same year, Govinda also appeared in the action film Andolan, in which he co-starred alongside Sanjay Dutt. The film emerged as another success.
In 1996, Govinda reunited with director David Dhawan in the romantic comedy film Saajan Chale Sasural. After his first wife is presumed dead, Govinda in the role of Shyamsunder remarries. But when it is discovered that his first wife is alive, he has to juggle between his wives, keeping both his marriages a secret. Karisma Kapoor and Tabu feature in the roles of the two wives, while Kader Khan and Satish Kaushik play supporting roles. The film was declared a super hit and became the 2nd highest grossing Indian film of 1996. The songs "Tum To Dhokebaz Ho" & "Dil Jaan Jigar Tujh Pe Nisaar" became extremely popular.
In 1997, Govinda starred in the comedy Hero No. 1, alongside Karisma Kapoor and an ensemble supporting cast of Paresh Rawal, Kader Khan, Satish Shah, among others. In the film, Govinda features as a wealthy business heir who hatches a plan to win the hearts of his girlfriend's family by working as a servant at their home. Upon its release, the film was another super hit for the actor and director David Dhawan, grossing ₹30.95 crore at the box office and was the seventh highest-grossing film of the year. The song "Sona Kitna Sona Hain" is still remembered today. Govinda then starred in romantic comedy Deewana Mastana (1997), co-starring Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla. The plot of the film involves a love triangle between the three lead actors, as Govinda's character Bunnu, a mental patient, and Kapoor's character Raja, a crook, try to outsmart each other to impress Chawla's character Neha, a psychiatrist. It was the second hit of the year for Govinda and Dhawan, and despite mixed reviews, Govinda's performance was praised, with Anupama Chopra of India Today writing "Govinda, as always, is an absolute treat."