GOVINDA COLUMN: RADIO SARGAM EXCLUSIVE!

Govinda is the latest Bollywood superstar to write a personal column for Radio Sargam. The actor-turned-politician recently hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Idle gossip about alleged marriage difficulties, not to mention an affair with actress Rani Mukherjee, has the whole industry talking. Radio Sargam decided it was time for Govinda to give his side of the story. Luckily he agreed to clear up the messy story…

GOVINDA’S FIRST RADIO SARGAM COLUMN!

I want to work with Rani Mukerji as we get along well and look good as a screen pair too. But we have not been able to do more work together for a few reasons for which the media is to blame. Rani is a mind-blowing actress and a very nice person. She is a great human being.

But we had to separate professionally. One, she was being hurt for a long time about what people kept saying. When a couple look good on screen, there are jealous individuals who try and create mischief. That is what exactly happened in the case of Rani and me. As a result of all the rubbish and unwanted talk, there started misunderstandings, hassles about dates, and soon rumours about our link-ups were all over the press. And the media took it upon itself to blow the matter out of proportion. Thus it has become difficult for us to do a film together.

I don’t understand how time and again people can write that I have an affair with Rani. Some even went to the extent of stating that I have gifted her a car and a flat. I never did anything like that. Luckily, my wife Sunita does not get affected by these matters, but my children do. They are growing up. They have friends and other students in their schools, who talk about me and Rani.

There are people who have gone to the extent of saying that I have split with Sunita and that she is staying separately. How foolish. I am not just an actor anymore. I am a Member of Parliament as well. Such lies hurt a lot of people.

People in the western countries are used to this kind of a living, but not out here. We are very conservative people and give a lot of importance to morality in relationships. My relationship with Rani is a beautiful one. We are great friends but can’t work together because of what people talk about us.

We believe in morality here. Our lifestyles are very Indian. We are not westernised in that. We cannot behave like Hollywood stars.

Here the spoken word is very important. So we have to be very careful of what we are saying about other people, as it tends to hurt others. As such I am very scared to hurt people. Sometimes saying no, or saying the truth means hurting others.

Like I had to refuse a film with Gulzar. He met me and we talked about the film. I knew I would hurt him by saying no, but I had to. His film failed to move me. I would love to work with Gulzarsaab if I feel the story appeals. I don’t want to do cinema that is too realistic. Mother India is fine, but not Chandni Bar.