Govinda refuses to dance before the Queen

February 11th, 2009

Govinda's whims never cease to amaze us. Recently, while shooting for a song and dance sequence in London for Tigmanshu Dhulia's Con Flick, he created yet another furore.

A unit source revealed, Con Flick's very first day of shooting was in front of the Buckingham Palace. The entire unit had assembled there, waiting for Govinda. But just when he arrived and took a look around, he declared he would not shoot at that location!"

And this is what Govinda had to say "I am a Member of Parliament from the ruling party of our country and it would not be right for me to dance in front of England's Queen."

When Dhulia tried to convince Govinda that the Queen may perhaps not be in there, he argued back, asking, what if she peeped out from a window?

Dhulia didn't know whether to laugh or howl at Govinda's reply! But then since Govinda was in no mood to comply, Dhulia was left with no option but to shift the shoot elsewhere.

Last time while shooting in London Govinda had left the shoot midway over some argument. There were also portions of the Queen's lookalike that Govinda insisted on being deleted from the film.

Con Flick stars Celina Jaitley and Rimi Sen opposite Govinda who plays a smooth talking conman in the film.

Bhansali on Govinda’s Wish List for Daughter’s Launch

February 3rd, 2009

Last year was a year of decision making for Govinda. One such decision was that he was only going to work with directors of a certain calibre after working with Mani Ratnam. It looks like 2009 will be spent in a similar vain - only with a lot more to look forward too. You see, 2009 is the year that Govinda’s daughter Narmada will finally be facing the camera, and that too with a home production.

Confirming this news Govinda went on to say, “I don't want anyone else no matter how well-meaning to take the credit for launching my daughter. So yes, Narmada will finally be launched anytime in 2009."

So the production company has been confirmed. All that is required now is the director, who is to be finalized in the next couple of weeks. The directors on the wish list to launch Govinda’s baby girl are Nikhil Advani and Shaad Ali.

"I'd have liked Narmada to be launched by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He's among our best. But since that's not possible we're looking at some other names. My daughter has to be directed by someone who has a vision and an aesthetic sense and also respects the work that I do."

Focusing on his daughter's career has forced Govinda to make some hard decisions for his own career. "Six of my releases are ready. But now, after my so-called comeback I've again stopped signing new films. After working with Mani Ratnam I can't go back to doing chalta hai roles in routine films. I'll work only with directors who are as organized and disciplined as Mani Ratnam. He's clear-headed about everything. "

Talking about his experiences whilst shooting for Ravan in the jungle Govinda says, "I've spent my childhood in a village. So I'm used to being in cut off from city life. Shooting in the jungles with Mani, Abhishek and Aishwarya was very invigorating."

As for now Govinda is not signing any new projects. "For now I'm saying no to all future assignments until I get something comparable with Mani's film…for now I'm focusing on giving my daughter the best career launch any father can give."

Govinda gets serious after forty

February 2nd, 2009

It seems our Bollywood actors are getting better and bolder after the age of forty. There’s no doubt that Chichi has become bold and better. Govinda has improved, be it his body or his attitude towards work he has changed a lot professionally. Known for his starry tantrums on the set, Govinda proved his critics wrong.

We heard Govinda who used to keep his costars waiting by coming late on the set surprised everyone by his punctuality. Apparently after the success of his last hit Partner Govinda has taken his career seriously. We heard Govinda has been putting in 15 hours nonstop to complete the shoot of Naughty Att Forty.

When we spoke to the producer Aanuj Sharma he couldn’t stop talking about Chichi’s professional attitude towards his work. Well, with this kind of grit and hard work, Naughty At Forty would definitely bring Govinda good results. And now we wonder if all those stories of him coming to sets four hours late are really true or if he has turned into a new leaf.

Govinda's Daugter Narmada Bollywood Debut Soon

January 19th, 2009

Bollywood star Govinda's daughter Narmada is ready to face the camera and the anxious father has decided to produce her debut film himself. "Narmada will launch her film career anytime in 2009. I feel today she is emotionally ready to face the camera," Govinda told us.

"After weighing all the pros and cons, I decided I'm the best person to produce my daughter's debut film. I don't want anyone else, no matter how well-meaning, to take the credit for launching my daughter," he said.

The director will be finalised in the next couple of weeks. Those on Govinda's wish-list are Nikhil Advani and Shaad Ali.

"Ideally, I'd have liked Narmada to be launched by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He is among our best. But since that is not possible, we're looking at some other names. My daughter has to be directed by someone who has a vision and an aesthetic sense and also respects the work that I do," said the actor.

Celina Jaitley turns stripper in ‘Showman’

January 9th, 2009

She kicked off with a bold role of a pole dancer in her debut film, Janasheen and now once again this glam doll will be seen in quite a bold role. Celina plays a stripper in night club in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s forthcoming film Showman.

Though it’s not a surprise for her fans, Celina has always been playing glamorous roles. Speaking about her role she says, “I am playing half English and half Indian girl. She is daughter of an English man who’s married to an Indian woman. This girl unfortunately comes from a very poor family background in London. She is grown up to be a stripper in night club and a con artist. She just forces people to make money out of them. Basically her main aim is to own a night club so she is pretending to be a stripper.”

It can be recalled that Celina played a pole dancer in her debut film. “Yeah but there I was a cop who pretends to be a pole dancer. I was an undercover cop. Everyone comes to know at the end of the movie that I am an undercover cop. And here I am again pretending to be a stripper but not one actually I am just trying to get all the girls to work for my club.”

Apart from Celina it stars Govinda, Celina and Rimi Sen in main leads. It’s produced by Reel Life Productions. This film has been shot in UK.

All about ‘Naughty at 40′

January 6th, 2009

The word is that Govinda isn’t being troublesome on the sets anymore and has started shooting for director Jagmohan Mundhra’s ‘Naughty At 40′.

This kind of puts an end to the speculations that the film’s in trouble.

So does that mean that Govinda has finally decided to mend his ways?

Director Mundhra decided to make a diplomatic remark and deny the reports. He said, “It was never Govinda’s fault that the shooting had halted. We had some production problems which have now been sorted out. Govinda has never been troublesome. For a 3 p.m. shift he arrives at 2.30 p.m.”

Maybe he wants to make sure that Govinda doesn’t turn naughty, play truant and trouble him like he troubles other producers. He said it’s high time the industry realised that they are in the throes of a recession.

He explained, “Actors within the industry have realized it and are working accordingly. There are reports of how Govinda has been troubling my project ‘Naughty At 40′. But the truth is that the project being in trouble has nothing to do with Govinda. On the contrary, he has been unfailingly disciplined and punctual. The days of stretching a film and its budget are over. Stars now need to cut their prices and give their dates at a stretch. It’s the only way.”

Currently the shooting is on in Punjab. The shoot will be on for 25 days after which the film will be complete.

Of course it will be, provided moody Govinda understands too and doesn’t change his mind again.