Real name of Govinda: Why the 90s Superstar faded from the limelight

New Delhi: Albeit a star of the bygone era, Govinda as a brand is still very much alive in the public memory. During his peak in the 90s, the actor gave Bollywood a plethora of classic comedy films that are enjoyed by people of all generations.

His humble presence on the screen, comedic timing, and dance moves have earned the actor millions of fans. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to attribute Govinda for introducing comedy as a mainstream genre in India. An inspiration for the younger actors, and many try to copy his style and mannerisms.

What is the real name of Govinda?

Govinda’s screen name isn’t much different from his real name. His full name is Govind Arun Ahuja. While most fans do not remember him by his real name, his nickname, on the other hand, is a fan favorite.

He was nicknamed Chi-Chi by his mother Nirmala Devi. Chi-Chi is the Punjabi word for the little finger. According to Govinda, his mother chose the name after the famous story of Lord Krishna lifting a mountain with his little finger.

Why Govinda’s success faded abruptly?

While stars coming and going isn’t anything new, Govinda’s way out of Bollywood makes a special case because of its sudden and abrupt timing.

Although there is no one clear reason why Govinda was driven out of the industry, the actor believes that it was because many have turned against him.
“Mountains crumble too…I couldn’t do anything about it,” Govinda said in a recent interview.

However, some people believe in the other side of the story. There were rumors that Govinda had turned arrogant and unprofessional in the heat of his success and that made people not want to work with him anymore. This included David Dhawan, who introduced Govinda to the genre of Comedy.