Govinda: Bio, Age, Height, Real Name, Family, Education, Wife, Children, Career, Controversies, Net Worth, & More 

Govinda was born as Arun Ahuja in 1963, and he is a celebrated Indian actor. People know him better for his energetic dance moves and excellent comic timing on screen. Govinda has an amazing career in the entertainment world and has done 156 films over time. He was one of the dominating figures in 1990s Bollywood. His signature style and charismatic screen presence made him one of the loved actors of all time. In addition to her film career, he has won different big awards, including Filmfare Awards. Then he briefly ventured into politics, further showcasing his versatile talent and enduring popularity.  In this blog, we’ll discuss Govinda age, career, net worth, controversies, and much more.

Govinda Biography

Govind Arun Ahuja, better known by his stage name Govinda, has worked in Hindi cinema for over 26 years and has acted in more than 165 films. Currently, he has turned into a politician, but he was a leading actor throughout the 1990s and had won several hearts with his slapstick performances and unique dancing skills. 

Govinda Age, Height & Physical Stats

Born on 21 December 1963, Govinda age is 61 years as of August 2025. His birth sign is Capricorn. With a height of 5ft 8 inches, he weighs around 80 Kg. People have always known him to be a little on the chubbier side, and this is his signature style. He has Brown eyes and Black hair.

Early Life

Govind was born in Virar, in Bombay, to parents Arun Kumar Ahuja, who was a former actor and went by the stage name ‘Aroon’. Govind’s mother was Nirmala Devi. His father was originally from Punjab, whereas his mother was from Varanasi. The former is known for appearing in several movies and was active in the showbiz industry for 15 years, and he managed to appear as a hero in 30 films. Govinda’s ethnical family background includes a mix of Punjabi and Sindhi. As a child, the young actor was the youngest of six siblings, and over the years, his family fondly gave him the pet name ‘Chi Chi,’ which means ‘little finger’ in Punjabi.

Educational Qualification

Ahuja had attended Annasaheb Vartak Smarak Vidyamandir Primary School in Virar. He attended Annasaheb Vartak College of Arts. He also attended Kedarnath Malhotra College and E.S. Andrades College of Science. His graduate degree holds a certificate in Bachelor’s in Commerce.

Personal Life

When Govinda was at the peak of his acting career, his uncle Anand Singh introduced him to the film Tan Badan and also quietly introduced his sister-in-law, Sunita Munjal. The duo fell in love and they got married on 11th March 1987, secretly until the word got out 4 years later.

Sunita Ahuja, who is half Punjabi and half Nepali, gave birth to 2 children – Narmada ‘Tina’ Ahuja and Yashvardhan. Unfortunately, their second daughter had been born prematurely and died at three months old.

Govinda Professional Career

Early Phase

After having received his undergraduate degree from Vartak College, Govinda’s father, Aroon, suggested that he take on acting as a career. Around the same time, the young actor found inspiration in the dance moves from the 1982 film Disco Dancer and began practicing for hours. He managed to circulate a promotional VHS cassette, which eventually landed him roles in commercials.

With time, he was allowed to act in a mythological television series, but he ended up bagging his first ever Bollywood project, thus leading to his grand debut in the film ‘Tan Badan’ in 1986.  Shortly after, he started working on other films and appeared in several films like Khudgarz, Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani, Marte Dam Tak, and several more in the late 90s.

Success Phase

From the years 1990 to 2001, Govinda had become a household name, and almost every movie included him in the cast and crew. By now, he had managed to act in several movies, with some notable ones including Khudaar, Dulaara, Raja Babu, Coolie No. 1, Hero No. 1, Bade Miyaan Chote Miyaan, Jodi No. 1, and several more. Audiences across the nation recognized his slapstick humor style, and the Bollywood industry regarded him as one of the leading actors of that time.

Current Phase 

Around the late 2000s, after facing a setback in his career due to the release of unsuccessful films, Govinda had started to lag. But, he was given a chance to act in some major comedy films like Bhagam Bhag, Salaam-E-Ishq, Partner, and several more. He did movies along with Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan. He had managed to win awards and accolades for his role in the film, and once again, he was back in the game because his signature style never really went out of style. However, after 2010, his career faced major setbacks, as he appeared in films such as Raavan, Naughty @40, Deewana Main Deewana, and several others.

Around this time, although he was given the chance to act in several films, they just did not work with his signature. He last appeared in the 2018 film Rangeela Raja, where he played a dual role, but the movie failed to gain fame or success. Since then, he has retired from acting.

Govinda Movies

Political Career

Back in 2004, Govinda entered the world of politics when he was elected to the Lok Sabha and joined the Indian National Congress. But with time, his celebrity status was consistently interfering with his political career, so he had a setback. On 20th January 2008, Govinda decided to opt out of politics because he felt it affected his career in an adverse way. However, he joined the Shiv Sena party before the 2024 Indian General Election and was warmly welcomed by Eknath Shinde.

Awards and Recognition 

In his career, Govinda has won several awards in his career. 

• He has won 3 Filmfare Awards and earned 7 nominations for the same. 
• He has successfully won Star Screen Awards twice and has been nominated thrice for the same.
• He has managed to win  the Zee Cine Awards four times and been nominated twice for the same 
• He has won two IIFA awards and been nominated thrice for the same. 

Govinda Controversies 

It’s not surprising that Govinda faced some controversies in his career — in fact, he once slapped a struggling actor, Santosh Rai, on the sets of Money Hai Toh Honey Hai, sparking a major controversy.

Social Media Presence 

Despite the fact that Govinda is all about old Bollywood charm and comedy, he has managed to stay updated with the up-and-coming digital age. He is thus active on social media

Govinda Net Worth

Over the years, Govinda has made a tremendous name for himself, and this has obviously left a sharp impact on his net worth. With over 160 films acted in, and over 25 years in the industry, it only makes sense that his net worth would be quite impressive. As of 2025, Govinda net worth is reported to be around INR 170 crores. He has earned his figure primarily from his acting roles, but he has also earned from acting in advertisements, paid promotions, and commercials. His impressive wealth is showcased by his high-end luxury lifestyle, which includes:

• A high bungalow located in Juhu, which costs over INR 16 crores. He has other such properties located in Ruia Part and Mud Island.
• His car collection isn’t very detailed, but we know that his most expensive car is worth around INR 64 lakhs. 

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Refresh Date: August 21, 2025