Salman is a true buddy: Govinda

Govinda is back with a bang. For his legions of frenzied fans, it's celebrations time and for the actor, it's been a much-needed breather. And he swears with conviction before his career could go kaput. "I'm happy to be under the arclights again and facing the camera with the grease paint on," he says. From a street dancer in Jhootha Ilzaam to boogie-woogieing with sultry beach babes and serenading the sensuous Katrina Kaif in Partner, this messiah of mass entertainers has undeniably come a long way. With an interim political stint on his path, apna hero No 1 is beaming ever-endearingly on the Bollywood boulevard.

And why not? After his successive mediocre films at the box-office, Nikhil Advani's Salaam-E-Ishq with an ensemble starcast and Priyan's laugh-riot Bhagam Bhag with Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar in company, his latest outing with "partner" Salman Khan has infused a new lease of life in his otherwise seemingly flagging career. "I was down and almost out. But my God-sent dear friend-cum-brother Salmanbhai pulled me out of the rut to rock yet again on the mainstream scene. And I must admit that the film has been a great experience to work in right from the start. Sallu held my hand at a point when most people tend to leave their pals in distress. He's a true buddy at heart," he expresses his gratitude.

With Partner raking in the moolah and paeans for its dose of full-on comedy on screen, many feel that the winning combination with filmmaker David Dhawan has helped Govinda in plucking up the trump card to pad up his career graph and swing into action. No wonder then that the "No. I" series director proved to be chhote miyan's lucky mascot in his trying times too. Earlier Govinda-David jodi has delivered several box office winners like Aankhen, Hero No 1, Coolie No 1, Haseena Man Jayegi, Jodi No 1 and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan "When a true performer budges an inch from his artistic quality, he starts to shrivel as a wilting tree. So, before I was about to fade out from the faint public memory, my tree regained its fresh, green foliage, tasty fruits and sweet-scented flowers," he adds.

On the work front, reports are already rife with a probable sequel to the now super successful Partner. Other projects on the anvil include a movie to be directed by choreographer-turned-director Ganesh Acharya (of Manoj Bajpai-Juhi Chawla starrer Swami fame) and a speculative offer from director-turned-actor Sohail Khan. The tentative working title of the next Partner installment doing the rounds is either Tom & Jerry or Carry On, Partner.

Till then, our favourite Raja babu can count his fortunes and keep his fingers crossed for the good and happy future.