Born on December 21, 1963, to the actor and producer, Arun Kumar Ahuja, and actress, Nirmala Devi, Govinda is fondly called ‘Chi Chi’ as it is his pet name. He had made his Bollywood debut with the film, Love 86, in 1986 and then there was no looking back for him. Govinda has popular hits like Ilzaam, Aankhen, Raja Babu, Hero No 1, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Haseena Maan Jaayegi to his credit. The versatile actor bagged the status of the ‘Hero no 1’ of the 90s' but life wasn't a bed of roses for him.
Govinda had endured major struggles from a very young age. His family had suffered hard times even before he was born. It had so happened that his father, Arun Ahuja, had produced a film that had flopped at the box office. However, Govinda didn't give up on his dreams and had made a name for himself in the Bollywood industry.
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Govinda's journey from a poor child living in a chawl in Virar to becoming a Bollywood superstar gives inspiration to many. However, in an interview with India Today in 1997, Govinda had revealed that he couldn't even afford groceries at one point in time and was insulted because of his family's uncleared dues. Recalling the incident, Govinda had said:
“The baniya used to make me stand for hours because he knew I wouldn’t pay for the goods. Once I refused to go to the shop anymore. My mother started crying and I cried with her.”
Govinda had won many awards and acclaims for his contribution to the Hindi film industry. He had also got appreciated for his comic timing and dance moves. In the same interview, Govinda had revealed that back in those days, he had dreamt of winning an Oscar, and had added:
“People laugh. They say, ‘he can’t even speak English properly, what he’ll win an Oscar?’ But if from nothing I could become Govinda, surely from Govinda I can become something.”
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Govinda is happily married to his childhood sweetheart, Sunita Ahuja. The duo had tied the knot on March 11, 1987. They have two children, Tina Ahuja and Yashvardan Ahuja. However, in an old interview with the Stardust, Govinda had admitted that he didn’t want to get involved in a serious relationship with Sunita Ahuja. Saying that he had just wanted to roam around with her, Govinda had quipped:
"I had never meant to get so seriously involved with Sunita. I was looking for a girl to go around with. I had signed a few films by then, and one day, my elder brother Kirti came to visit me on my sets. I had to do a romantic scene but couldn’t bring myself to do it. I felt very uncomfortable and awkward holding a girl in my arms. So, later, my brother told me, ‘Why don’t you have an affair just to get some experience of romance? You’ll at least, learn how to hold a girl in your arms’. At that point in time, I met Sunita. I admit that my involvement with her was a totally calculated move on my part. And I paid a heavy price for it."
Sunita and Govinda’s married life has seen many ups and downs, but the one thing that remained constant is that the two always managed to save their relationship. From Govinda being linked with several actresses to issues about troubles in their lives, the two had always managed to rise above it all. Govinda and Sunita have been each other’s pillar of strength through thick and thin and became stronger with each passing day.
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For the unversed, at the age of 49, Govinda had renewed his wedding vows with his wife, Sunita on their 25th anniversary, in the attendance of their close friends, in London.
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