When Amitabh Bachchan admitted Govinda's soaring popularity overshadowed him during the filming of 'Hum': 'Yeh nahi, Govinda ka autograph lo'

Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda delivered several memorable performances together, with films such as 'Hum' and 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' becoming fan favourites over the years. While both actors continue to enjoy immense popularity, there was a phase when Govinda's soaring stardom overshadowed even Bollywood's biggest icon.As stated by Bollywood Bubble, in an old interview, Amitabh candidly spoke about how fame in the film industry constantly shifts and recalled a moment that perfectly captured the changing dynamics of Bollywood during the early 1990s. During the making of Mukul S. Anand's 'Hum', which also featured Rajinikanth, Kader Khan and Anupam Kher, Amitabh witnessed firsthand how audiences had embraced Govinda as the industry's newest sensation.Recalling the incident, the veteran actor shared, "I was shooting with Govinda for 'Hum' when a group of young kids came up to me and one of the boys asked for an autograph. Govinda was standing next to me. There was a young, cute girl who gave him a slap and said 'Woh nahin, yeh. Govinda ka autograph lo' (Not him. Take Govinda's autograph)."

Big B accepted that audiences had moved on

At the time, Amitabh Bachchan was navigating a difficult phase professionally, with several of his films underperforming at the box office.

Meanwhile, Govinda had rapidly become one of Hindi cinema's most bankable stars following the success of 'Love 86' and a string of commercial hits.Reflecting on that transition, Amitabh admitted that he had made mistakes while selecting projects but accepted that a new generation of actors had taken centre stage."I made mistakes and kept trying to rectify them in film after film. But there's no denying that it is the turn of the younger boys now, because today's audiences are between 18 and 30," he said.

A career that stood the test of time

Despite the setbacks of that period, Amitabh Bachchan continued to reinvent himself and remained one of Indian cinema's most respected stars. More than five decades after his debut, the actor continues to headline major projects, proving that longevity is built on resilience and constant evolution.