- Monday, March 10, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Bollywood star Govinda recently made a surprising revelation about being offered the lead role in James Cameron’s blockbuster film Avatar. During an interview on Mukesh Khanna’s YouTube channel, Govinda claimed that the Hollywood filmmaker offered him a whopping ₹18 crore to play the lead character but he turned down the offer, calling the role “lame.”
Govinda also claimed that he was the one who suggested the title Avatar to James Cameron during their meeting in America. Recalling the incident, Govinda shared that he met a Sardarji in America who introduced him to Cameron. “I had given a business idea to a Sardarji about working in sweets and delicacies, which turned out profitable for him. Later, he introduced me to James Cameron and asked me to do a film with him,” said Govinda.
The actor revealed that when Cameron offered him the role, he was not keen to accept it. “James Cameron offered me ₹18 crore for the role, but I refused. He told me the shoot would take 410 days and I would have to paint my body for the character. I told him, ‘If I do this, I will end up in the hospital.’ So, I turned it down,” Govinda added.
Govinda also stated that he had a major role in naming the movie Avatar. “I had seen Rajesh Khanna once playing a character with a missing hand and I wondered why such a big actor would do such a role. I remember telling Cameron, ‘This will become Avatar someday.’ Later, when he approached me for the role, I couldn’t accept it because I found the character too bizarre,” he explained.
Released in 2009, Avatar starred Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana in lead roles and went on to become one of the highest-grossing films in the world. The second installment, Avatar: The Way of Water, was released on December 16, 2022. The third part is expected in 2025, followed by Avatar 4 in 2029 and Avatar 5 in 2031.
While the revelation has left fans shocked, Govinda remains confident about his decision to turn down Avatar.
