David Dhawan: Govinda has the rare talent to come up with..

In the 1990s, Bollywood comedy had a name—David Dhawan. And if there was one actor who embodied his brand of humor like no other, it was Govinda. Together, they created a string of cult classics that remain timeless, blending slapstick humor with impeccable comic timing. Films like ‘Coolie No. 1’, ‘

Hero No. 1

’, and ‘

Haseena Maan Jayegi

’ were more than just box-office hits; they became a cultural phenomenon. As today

Ek Aur Ek Gyarah

completes 22 years, David Dhawan fondly reminisces about the sheer unpredictability of working with Govinda, his unique ability to turn any scene into a moment of brilliance, and why he still holds out hope for a reunion that could recapture their old magic. He also spoke about Sanjay Dutt and his pairing with Govinda.
David, those were crazy days, weren't they?
Yes! Absolutely. Bahot maza aaya. You have no idea how much fun we had shooting those Govinda films. He is the master of improvisation. Woh, kahan se kahan lekar scene ko chala jaata hai! Baba re! What an actor! There is no one like him.
So why are you no longer working with Govinda?

Karenge , zaroor karenge; let the right script come. See, Govinda and I together again mean something special for the audience. You understand? We can’t let the audience down when we come together again. I am not sure, but I think Ek Aur Ek Gyarah was the first film where you brought Govinda together with Sanjay Dutt.
Have you forgotten Taaqatwar? That was when I first directed Sanju and Govinda together. I can’t remember the year. It was my first film as a director.
1989…
Okay. Ek Aur Ek Gyarah came later. I remember how well Sanju and Govinda got along. Their timing was spot-on. See, Sanju is not as well known for comedy as Govinda. But Sanju was very good at comedy. You can see it in their scenes together in Ek Aur Ek Gyarah and in Haseena Maan Jayegi.
There’s this absolutely crazy, zonky, freaked-out interlude in Ek Aur Ek Gyarah where Govinda , pretending to be physically disabled, gets up from his wheelchair phoenix-like with a war cry and starts gyrating madly all over the screen.Ha ha. I remember that. It was one of the highlights , and people loved it. Govinda has the rare talent to come up with surprises in every scene. I miss working with him.