Bollywood superstar Govinda recently claimed that he was offered James Cameron's Hollywood blockbuster Avatar for Rs 18 crore. Now, veteran producer Pahlaj Nihalani recently weighed in on these allegations, addressing the controversy surrounding Avatar. In an interview, he cleared the air that he had once come up with a project titled Avatar which had absolutely no connection to Hollywood's namesake.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Govinda’s career is his claim of being approached for Avatar, a film that went on to become a Hollywood blockbuster. In an interview with veteran actor Mukesh Khanna on his YouTube channel, Govinda recalled meeting James Cameron through a businessman in the US. He claimed that he suggested the title Avatar to Cameron and was offered Rs 18 crore for the role. However, he declined the project upon learning that the protagonist was handicapped, as he was unwilling to commit to the 410-day shoot.
In an interview with ETimes, Pahlaj Nihalani shared that he once envisioned a film titled Avatar with Govinda in the lead, a project entirely unrelated to James Cameron’s blockbuster of the same name. The film, set against the backdrop of football, followed a compelling story about a youth leader. With nearly 40% of the shoot completed—including 45 minutes of dialogue scenes and a song in progress—production came to an abrupt halt when Govinda fell ill. Eventually, he advised Nihalani to scrap Avatar and pursue a different project, leading to the making of Rangila Raja—a decision Nihalani now deeply regrets.
In a previous 2024 interview with Friday Talkies, Pahlaj Nihalani expressed his bewilderment over Govinda’s claims about being offered a role in Hollywood’s Avatar. He remarked that something seemed to have shifted in Govinda’s mindset after hearing the title, leading him to insist that he was part of James Cameron’s film. Nihalani sarcastically noted, "Uske dimaag ka disc ghum gaya aur language Hindi se English mein chala gaya." (Govinda’s thoughts had switched from Hindi to English overnight) This left the producer baffled by the actor’s statements.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Govinda’s career is his claim of being approached for Avatar, a film that went on to become a Hollywood blockbuster. In an interview with veteran actor Mukesh Khanna on his YouTube channel, Govinda recalled meeting James Cameron through a businessman in the US. He claimed that he suggested the title Avatar to Cameron and was offered Rs 18 crore for the role. However, he declined the project upon learning that the protagonist was handicapped, as he was unwilling to commit to the 410-day shoot.
What did Pahlaj Nihalani have to say about the Avatar controversy?
In an interview with ETimes, Pahlaj Nihalani shared that he once envisioned a film titled Avatar with Govinda in the lead, a project entirely unrelated to James Cameron’s blockbuster of the same name. The film, set against the backdrop of football, followed a compelling story about a youth leader. With nearly 40% of the shoot completed—including 45 minutes of dialogue scenes and a song in progress—production came to an abrupt halt when Govinda fell ill. Eventually, he advised Nihalani to scrap Avatar and pursue a different project, leading to the making of Rangila Raja—a decision Nihalani now deeply regrets.In a previous 2024 interview with Friday Talkies, Pahlaj Nihalani expressed his bewilderment over Govinda’s claims about being offered a role in Hollywood’s Avatar. He remarked that something seemed to have shifted in Govinda’s mindset after hearing the title, leading him to insist that he was part of James Cameron’s film. Nihalani sarcastically noted, "Uske dimaag ka disc ghum gaya aur language Hindi se English mein chala gaya." (Govinda’s thoughts had switched from Hindi to English overnight) This left the producer baffled by the actor’s statements.