In a bizarre moment that proves the adage that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, actor Govinda claimed, on an appearance on talk show Aap Ki Adalat, that he was offered the lead role in James Cameron’s 2009 science fiction film Avatar. “I suggested the title ‘Avatar’ for the film,” he told host Rajat Sharma, clarifying that he turned it down since the shoot schedule was 410 days. He also said that he wasn’t comfortable with his body being covered with paint.
With his strange declaration, Govinda also handed Twitter a golden opportunity to unleash a host of memes. Take a look:
One Twitter user gave us a glimpse of what Govinda might have looked like had he been cast as a Na’vi in Avatar.
A couple of others took a dig at his 1988 film Dariya Dil, which features song sequences with Govinda and Kimi Katkar dressed in Superman and Spider-Man costumes, respectively. One user slyly suggested that it would only be a matter of time before Govinda also claimed that he signed up for Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns and suggested Superman as Clark Kent’s secret identity.
One questioned his objection to using body paint after unearthing a picture from an old photoshoot with Juhi Chawla in which the two appear to be wearing nothing but wrapping paper and tin foil.
Comedian Karan Talwar had other ideas as to why he turned down the role...
Another Twitter user hilariously noted that Avatar might have had a different title had Govinda been in the film.
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