MY WAIST IS 32 NOW. I AM AIMING FOR 28 Renuka Vyavahare Govinda is a changed man. He has become fitness-savvy, thanks to son Yashvardhan. He has bid farewell to politics and plans to solely focus on movies. Govinda talks to us about his 30-kilo weight loss, ‘alleged’ tiff with Salman Khan, launching daughter Narmmadaa and making a comeback. What triggered your weight loss? I realised that it’s important to make a comeback in movies. Physical fitness is extremely important for an actor. My son Yashvardhan inspired me a lot. I jog and gym with him. He doesn’t push me, he shows me the way. I have lost 30 kgs. I have a 32-inch waist now. I am aiming for 28! After I stopped doing action films in 1994, I started gaining weight. How did you lose 30 kg? Yoga helped a lot. I don’t have dinner. Instead, I have a wholesome lunch. I munch on fruits throughout the day and exercise for three hours daily. I go for a run on the beach in the morning for 45 minutes, followed by yoga and meditation. In the evening, I do weight-training. I am a firm believer of Ayurveda, too. Which Bollywood actor has the best physique? I am a Dharamji fan. Salman Khan and John Abraham are also good, but Salman’s workout style doesn’t suit me. You reportedly fell out with Salman after Narmmadaa wasn’t launched in Dabangg. Not true. Salman calls her bachcha, she calls him chachu. I didn’t react at that time because of the way it was all written about. I didn’t think it was right to call him up either. He was too busy to even think of all these things. There is no problem. He probably did what was required. He’s been there for us. I have spoken to him post Dabangg. Would you like Narmmadaa to work with Salman, given the age gap? It’s not a question of me liking or disliking anything. Neetu Singh has played Amitabh’s daughter as well as lover. As an actor, the role is what matters. Narmmadaa is an independent person. She doesn’t get influenced by anyone. There was news that I am not allowing her to take up films. That’s wrong. She has rejected 20 films in front of me. Is Narmmadaa debuting in your film? Namu's debut will happen in my production. It will be a remake. I have already bought the rights of one of the hit films. Are you making a comeback with Karisma Kapoor in a David Dhawan film? I read about it, but Dhawan has not approached me yet. We did 17 films together and I told him we should do an 18th immediately. I was even okay with a guest appearance, but he didn’t listen to me. He must be having his own reasons. I’d love to work with Karisma, Raveena Tandon and Juhi Chawla. What went wrong with your stint in politics? We actors cannot be in politics. If you focus on politics, your film career is gone. I was 43 when I contested elections. It’s not my cup of tea. But it makes you resilient. Politics taught me not to react much. Govinda

MY WAIST IS 32 NOW. I AM AIMING FOR 28

    Govinda is a changed man. He has become fitness-savvy, thanks to son Yashvardhan. He has bid farewell to politics and plans to solely focus on movies. Govinda talks to us about his 30-kilo weight loss, ‘alleged’ tiff with Salman Khan, launching daughter Narmmadaa and making a comeback. What triggered your weight loss? I realised that it’s important to make a comeback in movies. Physical fitness is extremely important for an actor. My son Yashvardhan inspired me a lot. I jog and gym with him. He doesn’t push me, he shows me the way. I have lost 30 kgs. I have a 32-inch waist now. I am aiming for 28! After I stopped doing action films in 1994, I started gaining weight.
How did you lose 30 kg? Yoga helped a lot. I don’t have dinner. Instead, I have a wholesome lunch. I munch on fruits throughout the day and exercise for three hours daily. I go for a run on the beach in the morning for 45 minutes, followed by yoga and meditation. In the evening, I do weight-training. I am a firm believer of Ayurveda, too.
Which Bollywood actor has the best physique? I am a Dharamji fan. Salman Khan and John Abraham are also good, but Salman’s workout style doesn’t suit me.
You reportedly fell out with Salman after Narmmadaa wasn’t launched in Dabangg. Not true. Salman calls her bachcha, she calls him chachu. I didn’t react at that time because of the way it was all written about. I didn’t think it was right to call him up either. He was too busy to even think of all these things. There is no problem. He probably did what was required. He’s been there for us. I have spoken to him post Dabangg.
Would you like Narmmadaa to work with Salman, given the age gap? It’s not a question of me liking or disliking anything. Neetu Singh has played Amitabh’s daughter as well as lover. As an actor, the role is what matters. Narmmadaa is an independent person. She doesn’t get influenced by anyone. There was news that I am not allowing her to take up films. That’s wrong. She has rejected 20 films in front of me.
Is Narmmadaa debuting in your film? Namu's debut will happen in my production. It will be a remake. I have already bought the rights of one of the hit films.
Are you making a comeback with Karisma Kapoor in a David Dhawan film? I read about it, but Dhawan has not approached me yet. We did 17 films together and I told him we should do an 18th immediately. I was even okay with a guest appearance, but he didn’t listen to me. He must be having his own reasons. I’d love to work with Karisma, Raveena
Tandon and Juhi Chawla.
What went wrong with your stint in politics? We actors cannot be in politics. If you focus on politics, your film career is gone. I was 43 when I contested elections. It’s not my cup of tea. But it makes you resilient.
Politics taught me not to react much.

Govinda