‘Nobody looked at me’: Amitabh Bachchan recalled bitter taste of fading stardom when he went to New York with Govinda

In a 2016 conversation with journalist Rajeev Masand, Amitabh Bachchan opened up about this realization: “The whole equation changes. The crowd is not as attracted to you. People don’t look at you the same way they used to. You could enter a restaurant and cause mayhem. And then you can enter again and nobody looks at you. So, you go through that phase.”

He elaborated on the contrast: “I went to promote a film in New York during the time of Laawaris and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. I mean, not to promote, I just went to do a show. And it was madness. You couldn’t get out. Even when you’re on stage, I couldn’t get off the stage because it was just crazy. They had to get the limousine on stage, and there’s a lift that goes underground, and you get out onto the street. That’s how you had to escape.” Years later, promoting a film alongside Govinda and Raveena, the experience was drastically different: “We got off this great big limousine into the theatre, and nobody looked at you. You’re just walking in like the rest of the audience. So, you realize the difference.”

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Amitabh Bachchan has recounted other moments highlighting Govinda’s immense popularity. While shooting for Hum, he remembered a striking incident involving young fans: “I was shooting with Govinda for Hum when a group of young kids came up to me and one of the boys asked for an autograph. Govinda was standing next to me. There was a young, cute girl who gave him a slap and said ‘Woh nahin, yeh. Govinda ka autograph lo (Not him. Take Govinda’s autograph),'” he told Movie magazine.

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