Bollywood actor and Shiv Sena leader Govinda addressed the media for the first time after being discharged from the hospital, where he received treatment for an accidental gunshot wound. The 60-year-old actor expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the medical staff, politicians, media, and fellow artists who reached out during his recovery. He also defined the reason for keeping a gun, saying, "Fame is a flame."
“I want to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of the hospital for taking care of me during this critical time. Thank you to everyone, all the politicians and artists who called and visited me. I have no words to express my gratitude,” Govinda said.
The actor, known for his iconic roles in films like Hero No. 1 and Coolie No. 1, was hospitalised after accidentally shooting himself in the leg with his licensed revolver in the early hours of Tuesday, October 1.
Recalling the incident, Govinda clarified, “Thoda gehra lag gaya tha, laga tab vishwas nahi hua, aisa laga ye kya ho gaya (The wound is quite deep. It was quite shocking.) I was leaving for a show in Kolkata at around 4:45-5 am. At that moment, my gun fell and fired. I felt a jolt and saw blood coming out.” He emphasised that the accident should not be linked to anything else.
Reflecting on life’s unpredictability, Govinda added, “When we wake up in the morning and get ready, we feel everything is well, and there are no worries. I’m a bit of a happy-go-lucky person. I didn’t think about this, but we should always be vigilant. I hope nobody has to go through this.”
As a reporter asked Govinda the reason for keeping a gun with him, the actor expressed, “Fame is a flame. You have to be aware of the flame around you. When you achieve fame, you should be careful, as while many people love you, some are jealous too. Jealousy is fine, but it brings pain when someone becomes competitive.”
Before leaving for home, the actor once again expressed his gratitude for the support he received from his fans, stating, “I am grateful for all the prayers of my fans and media.”
Earlier, Govinda's wife, Sunita Ahuja, updated fans about the actor's health and said that the doctor had advised him six weeks of bed rest.
