Govinda Reveals What Mani Ratnam Told Him After He Reached ‘Raavan’ Sets at 4 AM: ‘Anyway, Govinda…’

Govinda has revisited an amusing memory from the sets of Mani Ratnam’s Raavan, revealing how his habit of arriving at the shoot hours before call time once prompted a memorable remark from the acclaimed filmmaker.

In an interview with ANI, the veteran actor reflected on his career, his willingness to experiment with different roles and the criticism that he often preferred sticking to a familiar commercial formula.

While discussing how his family encouraged him to take on unconventional projects, Govinda recalled his small but memorable association with Raavan, the 2010 action-adventure film starring Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vikram.

‘Sunita made me do Raavan’

According to Govinda, his wife Sunita Ahuja was among the people who pushed him to move beyond the kind of films audiences traditionally associated with him.

The actor recalled that Sunita had described him as stubborn because he was reluctant to take up certain kinds of projects.

Eventually, she encouraged him to accept Raavan, even though his role in the film was relatively small.

The decision proved to be an interesting departure for an actor primarily known for his comic performances, dance numbers and mainstream entertainers.

Govinda was reaching the set at 3 or 4 AM

But it was Govinda’s dedication to the project that produced one of the most amusing moments he remembers from the shoot.

The actor said he would arrive on the set extremely early sometimes as early as 3 or 4 in the morning.

Govinda apparently believed that his unusually early arrival would earn him some appreciation from the filmmaker and crew.

But according to the actor, the praise he expected never really came.

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Instead, Mani Ratnam eventually made a humorous observation about his punctuality.

Mani Ratnam’s unforgettable ‘Govinda’ remark

Recalling the incident, Govinda said that Mani Ratnam openly acknowledged how early he used to arrive at the set.

The filmmaker reportedly joked that nobody had even asked Govinda to come that early, before adding a tongue-in-cheek comment about the actor’s relationship with punctuality.

For Govinda, the remark became a memorable anecdote from his time on the film.

The story also offers a glimpse into the actor’s work ethic particularly during a period when he was trying to challenge the perception that he was unwilling to experiment.

A different side of Govinda

For much of his career, Govinda became synonymous with energetic comedy, expressive performances and effortless dancing.

His filmography, however, has also included serious dramas and films that demanded performances far removed from his familiar comic persona.

His decision to appear in Raavan was another example of that willingness to step outside his comfort zone.

Although his role was not among the film’s central characters, working with Mani Ratnam gave him an opportunity to be part of a very different cinematic world.

From ‘Hero No. 1’ to a comeback

Govinda remains one of Hindi cinema’s most recognisable entertainers.

He made his acting debut with Ilzaam in 1986 and went on to build a career spanning more than 165 films across comedy, romance, action and drama.

Movies such as Hero No. 1, Raja Babu, Saajan Chale Sasural and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan established him as one of Bollywood’s most popular comic performers, while films such as Hatya and Aawargi showcased another side of his acting abilities.

He has also received multiple Filmfare Award nominations and won the Special Award for Saajan Chale Sasural and Best Comedian for Haseena Maan Jayegi.

What’s next for Govinda?

The actor is now preparing for his return to the big screen with Roopa, which also stars Komal Rani Swarnkar.

The project marks Govinda’s comeback to films after several years away from the theatrical spotlight.

As he prepares for this new chapter, his story about Mani Ratnam serves as a reminder of a lesser-discussed side of the actor — one who was willing to show up before everyone else, even when nobody had asked him to.

And decades after becoming one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, that unusual punctuality has given Govinda yet another story worth remembering.