Amitabh Bachchan Opens Up About Facing Fading Stardom During Govinda’s Rise

Even legends face moments when the spotlight dims. Amitabh Bachchan once candidly shared how he experienced the sting of fading stardom during the mid-1990s. At that point, the larger-than-life “angry

young man” persona that had once made him a household name was no longer enough to dominate the box office, and a brief political stint had also shifted public perception.

During this period, Govinda was ascending to unprecedented heights. With effortless comic timing, sharp dance moves, and a charm that resonated with audiences nationwide, Govinda became the defining star of the 1990s. When Bachchan decided to return to films, he teamed up with the younger actor in David Dhawan’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), which went on to be a blockbuster. Yet, the experience served as a sharp reminder that the landscape had changed.

Reflecting on this phase in a 2016 conversation with journalist Rajeev Masand, Bachchan said, “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 recalled a vivid contrast from his past promotional tours: “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, while promoting a film alongside Govinda and Raveena, the response was strikingly 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.”

Bachchan has also shared moments that underline Govinda’s immense popularity with younger fans. Recalling a shoot for Hum, he said, “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).’”