Govind Namdev opens up about the emotional and psychological trauma he endured when Subhash Ghai removed his role from the iconic film Saudagar. The actor reveals how this unexpected decision deeply impacted him, both during the film's production and in the aftermath, as he struggled to come to terms with being cut from such a major project. Watch the latest podcast on Lehren for more on this revealing story. #govindnamdev #saudagar #subhashghai #podcast
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00:00I had told the whole world that I am working with Dilip sir,
00:04whom I consider as my guru.
00:05I am working with Rajkumar sir.
00:07I am working with Subhash Ghai.
00:09They were all great people.
00:11I had told everyone.
00:12Did you work with them again?
00:14No, I didn't.
00:15You didn't work with Mr. Ghai?
00:17Neither did he call me, nor did I go to him.
00:19There are many people whom I have put in the blacklist.
00:24I don't want to meet them.
00:25It is a very big life.
00:27There are many people, apart from them.
00:29You worked with Dilip sir and Rajkumar sir.
00:44Yes.
00:45How was that experience?
00:47You have done a lot of research.
00:50Because I don't tell this to anyone for no reason.
00:54I haven't talked much about it.
00:58It was a very traumatic time for me.
01:04Why is that?
01:06Because I was given a role and it was a big role.
01:09After that, I was removed from that role.
01:13In the final edit?
01:14Yes.
01:15I had told the whole world that I am working with Dilip sir,
01:20whom I consider as my guru.
01:22I am working with Rajkumar sir.
01:24I am working with Subhash Ghai.
01:26They were all big people.
01:28I had told everyone.
01:30And the shooting was also done.
01:32I was telling because the shooting was going on.
01:35After that, when it was time for dubbing,
01:39people were dubbing.
01:41I was not invited.
01:43Oh!
01:45Surprise!
01:46I had said good dialogues.
01:48I have done a lot of things.
01:50I had done long scenes.
01:53The importance of this character can be given by this.
01:59The beginning of the film was with this character.
02:02Oh!
02:03And the end of the film is with this character.
02:05Oh!
02:06Did you tell any reason behind this?
02:08Why were you cut?
02:10This was a character of a terrorist.
02:13Oh!
02:14Who teaches terrorism to children.
02:19Oh!
02:21Whatever you want to achieve,
02:23achieve it with the power of a gun.
02:26He is teaching how to shoot a gun.
02:28Oh!
02:29Like this.
02:32So, the film starts from here.
02:35And
02:39finally,
02:44with this beginning,
02:46a story is told to all the children.
02:49Like, Anupam plays the role of a storyteller.
02:52Yes, a storyteller.
02:53So, I have a thing with him.
02:55What is he doing?
02:56What is he teaching people?
03:00Do you know what violence means?
03:03What happens?
03:05Those who teach violence,
03:07those who get involved in violence,
03:09do you know what happens as a result?
03:11Yes.
03:12I will tell you a story.
03:15And then the story is told.
03:17And then the rivalry between Dinesh sir and Rajkumar
03:22is highlighted in the film.
03:24Oh!
03:25And finally, when the film ends,
03:28this terrorist goes to the pass,
03:32where we were listening to the story.
03:34He goes to the pass from there.
03:36There is a bridge there.
03:38There is a bridge over the river.
03:40He throws a gun over that bridge.
03:44Oh!
03:45And the gun freezes.
03:47And the film ends there.
03:49It was so important.
03:51In between, Anupam and I have a confrontation.
03:57He tells the story.
03:59In between, the story comes back.
04:01His story goes on.
04:02It comes back.
04:03Then we have a confrontation.
04:05So, this is how the story was going on.
04:07And the first film.
04:10When I came to Bombay,
04:12it was the first film.
04:14Such a big film.
04:17And I told everyone.
04:19And the work, the respect I had,
04:23as an actor, as a theatre artist,
04:25as a teacher,
04:27I brought all that respect with me.
04:29Yes, absolutely.
04:30And when it happened that
04:35they made the film for 4.5 hours.
04:38Oh, because of the duration.
04:40The duration was 4.5 hours.
04:43So, somehow they cut half an hour.
04:45So, 4 hours were left.
04:48Then they cut a little more.
04:50So, 4.75 hours were left.
04:52What should we cut now?
04:54So, someone suggested to them
04:56that if they remove this character,
04:58don't take it to that side.
05:00Start their story straight.
05:04So, that idea came to their mind.
05:08When it came,
05:10they removed that character.
05:13So, I was in a lot of trauma at that time.
05:16This was the reason that
05:18when people have said this
05:20and I will not be seen now,
05:22what respect do I have?
05:24I was in a lot of trouble at that time.
05:27So, Mr. Ghai did not talk to you
05:29during this time?
05:31He did not say anything.
05:33Last time, I kept coming out.
05:35And his brother kept telling me
05:37that it is not right now.
05:39We will tell you.
05:41Finally,
05:43nothing like this happened
05:45from their side.
05:47It is possible that
05:49they might have been in this.
05:51What should I say?
05:55Did you work with them again?
05:57No, I did not.
05:59You did not work with Mr. Ghai?
06:01Neither did he call me,
06:03nor did I go to him.
06:05Do you still feel that
06:07Mr. Ghai did not call you again?
06:09Or did he not give you work?
06:11No.
06:13Or should he have given you a reward
06:15by casting you in a film?
06:17It would have been nice if he had given me a reward.
06:19But I understand people's
06:21compulsion.
06:23I also understand the trend here.
06:25There are a lot of people
06:27whom I have put
06:29in the blacklist.
06:31I see.
06:33Mr. Ghai is one of them.
06:35I have a lot of people.
06:37I neither like meeting them,
06:39nor do I try
06:41to meet them.
06:43They are all top-line people.
06:45I do not want to meet them.
06:47It is a very big life.
06:49There are a lot of people other than them.
06:51So,
06:53why should I?
06:55Neither should I make them awkward,
06:57nor should I make you awkward.
07:01Music
07:03Music
07:05Music