Govinda Says James Cameron Offered Him Lead In Avatar, Claims He Gave The Title
Govinda claims James Cameron offered him the lead role in Avatar and that he suggested the film's title. He declined the role, calling the character 'lame', in an interview with Mukesh Khanna.
Govinda just dropped a blockbuster revelation—he says James Cameron personally offered him the lead role in Avatar! And that’s not all—he even claims to have come up with the title of the film itself. In a new interview with Mukesh Khanna on his YouTube channel, the Bollywood star shared that Cameron wanted him to play the lead in the 2009 sci-fi epic. But Govinda, being Govinda, said “Na bhai, not happening!" Why? The actor said that he refused to play the lead role in the film because the character was ‘lame’.
But here’s where it gets even wilder—Govinda says he suggested the name Avatar to Cameron!
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During the conversation, Govinda mentioned that this wasn’t a one-time thing—he’s had many instances where his words have brought good fortune to others. He recalled an incident and said, “I even left an offer of Rs 21.5 crore, although I remember this because it was painful. I had met a Sardarji in America and gave him a business idea to work in sweets and delicacies. Some years later, he said that the idea worked wonders for him. There, he made me meet James Cameron. He asked me to do a film with James, so I invited them for dinner to discuss about it."
He added, “Picture ka title bhi maine hi diya tha. Maine Rajesh Khanna ji ko dekha tha left hand kata hua… maine kaha, ‘Yaar accha aadmi he pata nahi kyu ajeeb sa role kar liya!’ Toh maine kaha, ‘Second time banegi Avatar!’ Toh mujhe kehta hai, ‘The hero is lame!’ (I had only given the title. I had seen Rajesh Khanna and wondered why he did that part. I only predicted the sequel). Maine kaha, ‘Lame? Govinda! Hello? I am not doing your picture!’ He said, ‘I am offering you 18 crores.’ I said, ‘I don’t want your 18 crores.’ He said the shoot will be for 410 days. I said that is okay, but if I paint my body, I will be in the hospital!"
The first Avatar film hit theaters in 2009, with Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana leading the cast. Its long-awaited sequel, The Way of Water, arrived on December 16, 2022. Fans can look forward to more adventures on Pandora, with Avatar 3 set to release in 2025, followed by Avatar 4 in 2029 and Avatar 5 in 2031.
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