Govinda and I were paid less than the monkey in David Dhawan’s Ankhen, says Chunky Panday: ‘It stayed in a five-star hotel’

Chunky Panday, Govinda, and Shakti Kapoor recalled a humorous anecdote about working with a monkey in the film Aankhen.

New Delhi | Updated: December 3, 2024 05:20 PM IST

3 min read

Chunky Panday, Govinda, and a monkey in the film Aankhen.

Actors Govinda and Chunky Panday, who starred together in the film Aankhen, directed by David Dhawan, claimed that they weren’t paid for their work. In fact, they said, the monkey who appears prominently in the action-comedy was pampered more than they were. Chunky, Govinda, and Shakti Kapoor appeared together on a recent episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show, hosted by comedian Kapil Sharma. They regaled the audience with fun anecdotes from a more carefree time in the film industry.

Recalling their time on Aankhen, Shakti said, “We did this film together where these two were the heroes. Actually, no, there were three heroes. Govinda, Chunky, and a monkey. Ask them.” Chunky said, “Yes, he was paid more handsomely than us.” Govinda agreed. He said, “We didn’t get paid.” Shakti said that the monkey was given a room at the Sun and Sand hotel in Mumbai. He joked, “Whenever David would call for the monkey, Chunky would show up. Whenever he called for Chunky, the monkey would show up.”

Also read – Chunky Panday reveals Shakti Kapoor sent Rs 50,000 to budding actor to prevent him from playing a major villain: ‘He was worried’

This isn’t the first time that they’ve mentioned the privileged monkey. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Chunky had recalled, “I was told that everyone except you have a double role in the film and I said it was not fair. So, I was given a monkey (laughs). That monkey was paid more than me and Govinda. He was a very expensive monkey from down south and used to fly with 6 assistants. He was a big star who would stay at hotel Sun and Sand. Crazy things used to happen to the set because of this fellow but he was equally loved by everyone.”

On the show, the three actors also pulled each others legs, and cracked jokes at Shakti’s lascivious behaviour, Chunky’s stinginess, and Govinda’s all-round talents. Shakti also narrated a story about how Chunky got paid a commission once for bringing Salman Khan to a store. In a recent chat with his daughter, Ananya, Chunky reflected on his career ups and downs, and admitted that there was a time when he was ‘flat broke’ and out of work.

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