Once hailed as a superhit hero, Govinda’s films were consistently anticipated to make waves at the box office. Embarking on his career in 1986, he took the Bollywood stage by storm during the ’80s and ’90s, solidifying his position as one of the industry’s most triumphant actors.
Famed for his composed demeanor and avoidance of controversies, Govinda found himself in an unprecedented situation when he slapped a fan. The incident occurred in 2008 while Govinda was engrossed in the filming of Ganesh Acharya’s movie “Money Hai Toh Honey Hai” at Filmistan studio. Santosh Rai, a fan standing behind the cast and was watching the shoot, found himself the target of Govinda’s wrath, resulting in an unexpected slap. This incident ignited controversy among his fans due to its unforeseen nature.
Govinda’s rationale for the slap stemmed from Santosh’s alleged inappropriate behavior towards female dancers. In an interview with the Times of India, the actor candidly stated, “Yes, I slapped him. The guy was trying to get too close to the girls. I felt that I had to take a stand.”
During that juncture, Govinda’s role as an elected MP from Congress introduced a political dimension. He voiced his sentiment that opposition parties were singling him out, asserting, “Opposition parties are harassing me. Little do they know that I had met Sonia Gandhi and clearly told her that I was working in my own way. I strongly feel that I have not received support from the police and the government,” he emphasized.
Subsequently, Santosh Rai lodged a legal complaint against Govinda and demanded an apology. Rai, speaking to Business Standard, expressed his astonishment, musing, “Imagine being hit by someone you considered God.” In 2016, Govinda offered a heartfelt and unconditional apology to Rai, along with a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs.
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