‘I told Govinda, don’t do the film if you can’t come on time’: Priyadarshan recalls warning the actor over punctuality

For years, Govinda had a bad name in films for showing up late to sets or skipping them. Many said this caused his career to drop. It made things tough for producers and co-stars. Recently, director Priyadarshan had the same fear when he was picking him for ‘Bhagam Bhag’. But Govinda arrived on time for shoots.

Priyadarshan now sees it as one of his top wins.

Priyadarshan on Govinda

Speaking with Mashable India, Priyadarshan recalled, “I got my Padma Shri, and there was this interview where I was asked if this was my biggest achievement. I said no, my biggest achievement is getting Govinda and Salman Khan at 5 am and finishing the film on time.” Speaking about his initial fears regarding Govinda’s punctuality, he added, “I told Govinda that I had heard all these things about you, so please don’t do the film if you cannot come on time.

But I tell you something, every day, he was on time. I really enjoyed working with him.”Priyadarshan also talked about Govinda's natural talent for improvising on set. The actor would often add his own dialogue. “Govinda used to put his own lines, so I told him, ‘I’m already paying Neeraj Vohra (screenwriter), I don’t need another writer.'”

Govinda on the shoot of 'Hum’

In the past, many filmmakers and industry folks have discussed Govinda's habit of showing up late. Vijay Patkar, who worked on

Mukul Anand

's 'Hum,' shared in a Filmymaantra Media interview: “Director Mukul Anand wanted a sunrise shot with the whole family walking by.

They couldn’t shoot it for three days because Govinda wasn’t on set. Rajinikanth, Bachchan saab were all on set. On the fourth day, the director requested him again, and he came. All of them waited for him because he just wouldn’t come.”

Govinda's Switzerland delay

Vashu Bhagnani, producer of Govinda's blockbusters ‘Hero No. 1’ and ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’, told YouTube's Reviewron (Ronak Kotecha) about a frustrating shoot in Switzerland. The full crew of 75 waited three full days for Govinda to arrive.

Govinda's manager pushed back in an ETimes chat, insisting schedules were spot-on and hold-ups stemmed only from health woes or travel snags.

Govinda's comeback view

Govinda recently tackled rumours of his industry "bad rep" head-on. In a chat with Siddharth Kannan, he said. “Look, in this film industry, everyone at some point is forced out and given a bad reputation. You see, legendary

Amitabh Bachchan

, he was the perfect actor in the industry, right? But he was absent for 14–15 years. Why? Did he not show up on time for shoots? Look at Rajesh Khanna. In the middle of his career, there was an entire group of people saying, ‘No, it’s not good, this is wrong, that is wrong, he looks strange.’ Again, why? It’s a phase you have to go through. How you come out of it, that’s the game”