‘Madhuri Dixit turned down a film with Govinda as he was a newcomer,’ reveals Pahlaj Nihalini: ‘I replaced her with Neelam Kothari’

Veteran producer, director and former CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalini shared a long professional association with Govinda and did many films with the actor during the initial stage of his career. In a recent interview, Nihalini has revealed how Madhuri rejected a film with Govinda as he was a newcomer that time.According to the veteran filmmaker, the decision stemmed not from Madhuri herself, but from the influence of her longtime manager, Rikku Rakesh Nath. Nihalani went a step further, accusing Rikku of conspiring with several producers to hinder Govinda’s career trajectory. “I met Govinda through Rikku Rakesh Nath. I only recommended him to manage Madhuri Dixit. I had signed Govinda opposite Madhuri and I had appointed Rikku as a secretary,” Nihalani shared during a chat with Pinkvilla. “Later, Rikku and 8–10 producers made a group against Govinda. They added pages in the screenplay but none of those films were made.” Although he didn’t explicitly name the project, Nihalani hinted that the film in question was ‘Ilzaam’, which ended up being a pivotal early release in Govinda’s career. Madhuri, reportedly unwilling to work with a newcomer, passed on the film, leading Nihalani to cast Neelam in her place. The decision paid off, as ‘Ilzaam’ became a box office success and catapulted Neelam to stardom. Reflecting on the series of events that followed, Nihalani said, “I replaced Madhuri with Neelam Kothari. I offered another film to Madhuri, Aag Hi Aag… but whatever films Madhuri was doing kept shutting down. Again I cast Neelam in Aag Hi Aag. Then I did Paap Ki Duniya, again with Neelam.” He pointed out that while Neelam’s films with him were flourishing, Madhuri’s career faced turbulence, with several of her films either stalling or underperforming. “Then I got angry that Madhuri is refusing whatever films I bring to her, Rikku kept making excuses. I then court martialed them in an interview. All of Madhuri’s films kept shutting down or they were being declared flop. But all the three of my films were golden jubilee at the same time,” he said. Despite the tensions, the tables turned when Rikku returned with a humble request. “Then Rikku came to me asking that even if you don’t make a film with Madhuri, just do a mahurat of her film. This was the time when the industry was reeling under video piracy and no mahurats of films were being done. At this time, I did mahurat of three films, including one with Madhuri, Anil Kapoor, Chunky Panday.” That particular project was ‘Tezaab’ a landmark film that became a game-changer for Madhuri Dixit, especially with the song ‘Ek Do Teen’. Eventually, Madhuri and Govinda did share screen space in films like ‘Maha Sangram’, ‘Izzatdaar’, and ‘Paap Ka Ant’.