In pictures: Six events that put Govinda through challenging time

The tragic death of Govinda’s daughter

Now a happy husband and a content father, Govinda was once shattered after his four-month-old daughter took her last breath. Born pre-mature, the daughter couldn't survive and it left Govinda shattered. This was the first of eleven deaths (including his parents, cousins, sister and brother-in-law) in his family that he witnessed.

Fallout with David Dhawan

David Dhawan and Govinda used to be one of our favourite actor-director jodis and together curated iconic films like 'Hero No. 1', 'Haseena Maan Jayegi', 'Benarasi Babu', 'Shola Aur Shabnam', and more. Who knew things would have such a bitter end? Dhawan, apparently, was ready with his 18th film with Govinda but later backed out. Slowly, the actor's Bollywood career was also drowning. "I did 17 films with him. When I asked David to make the 18th film with me, he took my subject and titled it 'Chashme Baddoor' and cast Rishi Kapoor in it. Then I asked him to put me as a guest appearance. He didn't do that too. After that, I didn't meet him for some years. I kept requesting him to take at least one shot with me so that it could be my 18th film with him. But I don't know what he had in his mind. David Dhawan did not stand by me during my bad phase. When a person thinks that you are not competent enough to do his film or work with him, one should not ask for work from that person," upset, Govinda later stated in one his interviews.

When he slammed Karan Johar

Govinda lashing out at Karan Johar is a recent instance, and an infamous one also. Way before he indulged in a 'nepotism' debate with Kangana Ranaut, Govinda had put it in words. "He (Karan) has never called me in 30 years, he doesn't see actors who are not the part of his group and doesn't even say a hello, I doubt. He's not that kind-hearted. It's a well-planned and smart move by Karan that he's releasing his film a week after mine. Mujhe woh kabhi seedha nahi lagta hai. (I don't find him as straightforward as he projects himself)," one of his interviews with a publication read. This was followed by his remarks that Johar is even more jealous and dangerous than David Dhawan!

His unfinished love for Neelam

Among the actors who fell in love with their co-stars but could never bring a conclusion to it, Govinda was one. He started dating Sunita Ahuja (now his wife) as an impulsive man who wanted to see how having a woman in life felt like. But real love struck when he met actress Neelam. However, he quite well realised he was way too unpolished, as compared to the kind of a man Neelam desired. Neither did he have an option to move out of the commitment he had given to Sunita. They eventually got married. “I was never her cup of tea anyway. I am a ghati. An unpolished boor, and she’s a Dresden doll. Clean, pure, polished and dignified. We would probably never have got along," Govinda later said, recalling old days. However, he now has found love in Sunita and is content with whatever he has.

As he called it quits to politics

Govinda joined the Indian National Congress in 2012 and became an MP. However, due to his acting schedules, he was often unable to make it to the Loksabha sessions and was heavily criticised for not doing his duty as a politician. Meanwhile in 2007 released his film 'Partner' which was kind of a comeback from him. In 2008, Govinda decided to resign as a politician.

When he slapped a fan

A slap can cost you heavy; sometimes as much Rs 5 lakh. On the sets of 'Money Hai Toh Honey Hai', he slapped a fan named Santosh Rai for allegedly misbehaving. This led the fan to filing a case against the actor. After a tenure of 2009 to 2013, Bombay High Court quashed the complaint in 2013. In 2014, Santosh took it to Supreme Court. Govinda finally had to bend down and offered an unconditional apology and Rs 5 lakh to him.