Bollywood actor Govinda made a shocking revelation that he had given the title to Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron for his Oscar-winning film ‘Avatar’ but refused to do the role in it.
Govinda appeared in an interview, where he claimed that he suggested the title ‘Avatar’ to James Cameron and was also offered a heavy paycheck to play the main role in it but refused to do so because the character was ‘lame’.
Here is what he said, “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,” revealed Govinda.
“He asked me to do a film with James, so I invited them for dinner to discuss it. Picture ka title bhi maine hi diya tha (Even I had given the title)."
Further Govinda stated, “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! (I had seen Rajesh Khanna and wondered why he did that part. I only predicted the sequel)’. Toh mujhe kehta hai ‘The hero is lame!’ Maine kaha ‘Lame?
"Govinda! Hello? I am not doing your picture. I am offering you 18 crores", he said.
I said, "I don’t want your 18 crores, and the shoot would be for 410 days."
I said, "That is okay, but if I paint my body, I will be in the hospital.”
Govinda shared that it was not even the biggest offer he rejected. “I even left an offer of INR21.5 crore, although I remember this because it was painful,” he disclosed.