Govinda: I've finished my work in Jagga Jasoos but won't promote film

Says Govinda, upset with the makers for not standing up for him; adds that he couldn't launch his daughter while he was struggling himself.

Dressed casually, Govinda strolls into his Juhu office and immediately jumps into the heart of a recent controversy. Buzz is, he has been abruptly dropped from Jagga Jasoos and Anurag Basu has approached Amitabh Bachchan to replace him in the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer.

Prod him on the subject and the actor points out that it's only a friendly guest appearance with barely three or four scenes. "I've finished my work but I won't be a part of the promotions. I'm upset with the makers for not clarifying things on my behalf. I can understand them not wanting to get dragged into a silly controversy but not reacting was not a solution. Nobody is allowed to make money by defaming me. I may forgive but I'll never forget," he asserts with quiet menace.

Still seething, he reveals that Karan Johar had offered him a film two years ago. But he turned it down after he learnt that the maker had made enquiries about whether he came to the sets on time. "I have worked with producers like Saif Ali Khan and Salman Khan and there have never been any complaints about my late-comings," he argues. "In fact, Salman keeps asking me why I haven't been signing films. I tell him that I only want to do films I'm comfortable with."

But Govinda recently refused Salman's remake of the superhit Marathi movie Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho. "I didn't like the subject. Period," he says shortly. And did he enjoy Happy Ending and Kill Dil which were supposed to resurrect his career last year but tanked at the box-office? "I got my share of appreciation so I have no problems with the films. It was a pleasure working with the production houses. There were no rumours... no fake news," he quips with a smile.

And when will he reunite with his favourite director, David Dhawan, with whom he's given a string of hits in the past? "After working together in 17 films, we haven't met once in the last five years. When two people don't meet for so long, how will they work together?" he asks, quickly adding that David's sons, Rohit and Varun, are like family and he has no problem working with the kids.

His fans will however get to see Karisma Kapoor and him together on the TV screen in the finale of Dance India Dance Super Moms. The duo is still remembered for hit songs like Main toh raste se ja raha tha and Sarkailo khatiya. Govinda promises that their performance will remind one of their glory days, 15 years ago. "I've done around 15 films with Lolo, we were a lucky jodi. It's great that she has begun to work again," he beams.

Judging the reality show has given Govinda a new perspective on acting and women. "It showcased women who had quit their jobs after marriage and motherhood, and proved that they're not done yet. I feel blessed by all these super moms," he asserts.

Meanwhile, daughter, Tina Ahuja, will be making her Bollywood debut in Second Hand Husband. Her dad is elated and proud that she will make her beginning without help from him. "She's hardworking and confident, I pray she succeeds," he says.

Didn't he want to launch her himself? "After Partner and Bhagam Bhaag, I didn't work for five years. It was a difficult time and making a film was impossible. I couldn't give her a break when I was struggling myself. But after Happy Ending and Kill Dil, I signed nine films and will roll with two home productions in September," he signs off.