Govinda’s rise in Bollywood during the late 1980s and 1990s came with extraordinary success, but it also brought a punishing workload that nearly cost him his health. According to ETimes, the actor once revealed on The Kapil Sharma Show that he was working at such an intense pace that he eventually had to be hospitalized.
The actor shared that he had been shooting continuously for about 15 days when his body could no longer keep up. At the time, Govinda was one of the busiest stars in the industry, often juggling several films at once and maintaining a schedule that left little room for rest or recovery.
When legendary actor Dilip Kumar learned about Govinda’s condition, he called him personally to ask what had happened. After hearing about the nonstop work schedule, Dilip Kumar reportedly gave him firm advice and warned him that continuing in the same way could seriously damage his life and career.
Govinda said Dilip Kumar told him to step away from 25 films. The advice shocked him because he had already accepted advance payments for those projects. However, Dilip Kumar also offered a practical solution by guiding him toward someone who could help him arrange the money needed to return the advances.
Looking back on that moment, Govinda said he believed he was alive because he followed Dilip Kumar’s advice. The actor credited the late screen legend for helping him make a difficult decision at a time when his health was under serious strain.
Govinda made his Bollywood debut with Love 86 in 1986 and went on to become one of Hindi cinema’s most popular entertainers. His hit films included Raja Babu, Coolie No. 1, Hero No. 1, Dulhe Raja, Haseena Maan Jayegi, and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
Known for his comic timing, dance moves, and mass appeal, Govinda became one of the defining stars of 1990s Bollywood. His most recent screen appearance was in Rangeela Raja, directed by Sikandar Bharti and co starring Shakti Kapoor, which released in 2019.
