MUMBAI:

Govinda is not in a reconciliatory mood right now. After having been constantly pitched against co-stars in all his recent films, he feels it’s time to stop the combative spirit.

He laughs mirthlessly: “I’m not just pitched against my male co-stars but even female co-stars. When I did films with Karisma Kapoor people kept debating on which of us danced better,” Govinda said.

“Good that they never spoke about who looked prettier. Seriously, I don’t want this kind of murky competition. It’s hampering my career. Haven’t Shah Rukh and Salman worked together in Karan Arjun and Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam? Nobody pitched them together because people close to them don’t want them to be at loggerheads. Even I want that kind of a peaceful atmosphere around me. I’m fed up with being on tenterhooks because of such undue comparisons with co-stars.”

Didn’t Govinda resent the fact that Akshay Kumar walked away with the meaty part in Bhagam Bhag?

“Look, I was happy with what I got to do in Priyadarshan’s Bhagam Bhag and Nikhil Advani’s Salaam-e-Ishq. I don’t know why people keep pitching me against my co-stars. This isn’t helping my attempts to re-establish myself. They become very conscious of my presence. I made no efforts to steal the scene from anyone.”

Says the actor, “Partner with Salman has been a very satisfying experience. David Dhawan knew what Salman and I are about. He has worked so many times with both of us. He gave Salman the singing dancing and action. I got to do the comedy. So our domain was pre-divided.

Partner is a hit. I’m grateful to not just Salman but his entire family. In today’s times who would spend millions making a big-budget film with an outsider like me? I don’t want my relations with them to be spoiled with the same old comparisons. Because what Salman-bhai can do, I can’t.”