The talented actor reveals how his relatives often desired to see him do song and dance in a mass entertainer.

Masaan [2015], Uri: The Surgical Strike [2019], Sardar Udham [2021]. Vicky Kaushal is largely known for his intense roles. Thus it came as pleasant surprise to see him play the lead in Dharma Productions’ mass entertainer murder mystery Govinda Naam Mera [2022]. This film has been a well-guarded secret until Dharma Productions, Viacom18 Motion Pictures and streaming partner Disney + Hotstar launched the trailer yesterday [20 November] in Mumbai.

Before the script narration, director Shashank Khaitan had briefly met Kaushal a year ago to tell him that he is writing something crazy keeping him in mind. Khaitan didn’t reveal much then. Kaushal then went shooting for Sardar Udham. He came back and that is when the director narrated the script of Govinda Naam Mera.

Set in the humble lanes of Mumbai, Govinda Naam Mera sees Kaushal playing the role of Govinda Waghmare, a humble Maharashtrian choreographer. Kaushal himself was surprised to be cast in such a role.

“I was hungry to do something, a film where I didn’t not have to cry. The sorrow finally ended through this film. The important thing for me was that whenever I met my relatives in Punjab or any anywhere, they liked all my films, but often asked when will you do song and dance? So, finally that film arrived,” said Kaushal.

This is their maiden collaboration, but Kaushal and Khaitan are no strangers to each other.

Recalling the past Kaushal said, “Shashank and me go back to our theatre days, Shashank is a tremendous actor, dancer himself. We have done plays together. There was this Naseeruddin Shah play, where he was the lead actor in that play. I played a small tole. We’ve been wanting to collaborate since them.  I’m so happy that he even thought of me for this part. I never knew that someone could think of me in such a character. It was his [Khaitan], your [Karan Johar] confidence that I got the confidence to play this character.”

Govinda Naam Mera [2022] is set to stream on Disney + Hotstar from 16 December.

Watch the trailer below.