Govinda-Krushna Abhishek fallout: Television actor Arti Singh married Mumbai-based businessman Dipak Chauhan on April 25 in Mumbai. One of the biggest highlights of the wedding was actor Govinda attending the wedding of his niece, ending years-long feud with his nephew and Arti’s brother Krushna Abhishek. Govinda and Krushna had a fallout in 2016 and the two families have not been on talking terms since then.
While exiting the venue, Govinda told the media, “Ishvar se prarthana hai, jo kripa Arti par hui hai kisi prakaar ka vastu dosh na lage (I pray for her and may god protect her from evil).”
Krushna also expressed his happiness at Govinda’s presence at the wedding. He said, “I am very happy. Bohot khushi ka din hai aaj, Arti ke liye hum sab ke liye. Mama aaye bohot khushi hui. Vo dil ki baat hai, humara aisa emotional connect hai. So happy to see him aur Yash abhi bhi hai andar. (It is a big day for Arti and each one of us. Mama (Govinda) came, and I am very happy. It's a matter of the heart. We are emotionally connected. Yash is still here)."
Here’s an entire timeline of the fallout between the two and who said what in the entire episode:
2016: Govinda gets upset with a comment Krushna made
It all started when Krushna Abhishek made a comment on his show that didn’t go down well with Govinda. Krushna had said, “Maine Govinda ko apna mama rakha hai.” Govinda got upset with the remark and said, “Krushna has been making money by insulting others on television. I was extremely upset with the ‘Mama rakha hai’ remark and summoned him home. I told him that he should refrain from making such statements in the garb of gags as they could be humiliating. But Sunita told me to let him work and I relented as that’s how he is making money. I am used to reading good, bad, and ugly things about myself, but it’s annoying to have a family member making a personal interaction public. That’s unacceptable. I can’t trust him anymore.”
2016: Govinda appears on Kapil Sharma’s show instead of Krushna's show
Govinda, while promoting Jagga Jasoos, made an appearance on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’ along with his wife Sunita and daughter Tina. Krushna was upset with this as the actor didn’t go on ‘Comedy Night Love’ that he was hosting at the time. “Somehow our dates didn’t seem to match. I messaged him again four days ago, but to my shock, I learnt that he and his wife were shooting with Kapil. I was aghast as I expected him to support his nephew,” Krushna said.
“I cracked a joke saying ‘Maine Govinda ko apna mama rakha hai (I have kept Govinda as my uncle)’ on my show, which did not go down well with him. I tried to reason with him saying that it wasn’t in bad taste. In fact, it only raises my status by calling him my mama. It wasn’t derogatory at all. I have no qualms on being addressed as Govinda’s nephew; it is like my second identity. A star is free to go on other shows, but being family, I expected him to come to my show first. He is behaving like a superstar now and not my Chi Chi mama,” Krushna had said.
2018: Govinda’s wife Sunita slams Krushna’s wife Kashmera for her tweet
A tweet by Kashmera about “people who dance for money”, made the whole situation messier. Sunita, believing that Kashmera was referring to Govinda, decided to cut off ties with the couple. She had then said, “About six months ago, on Krushna’s insistence, Govinda and I wen, t on his show (The Drama Company). Since we are also fond of the show’s producers, Preeti and Neeti Simoes, we agreed. All was well until Kashmera had the audacity to slyly write rubbish about us on social media, soon after that appearance. She referred to us as ‘People who dance for money’ in that post. Even if we were paid for that appearance, it was none of her business. Almost every Bollywood celebrity charges for appearances on TV shows. Plus, she is not the one who paid us. I don’t know if she has deleted that post now, but most of our relatives and family friends read it back then. Krushna claims that the post was meant for his sister Arti, but how come it was put up soon after we appeared on his show?”
Though Krushna later clarified that the tweet was meant for his sister Arti Singh, the relations between the two families fell apart.
2019: Sunita refused to share the stage with Krushna
When Govinda and Sunia appeared again on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’ in 2019, Krushna was a part of the show. He was missing from the segment when the two were on stage. He later told TOI, “I was told by the team that Sunita mami didn’t want me to be a part of the segment featuring them. So I appeared in a gig before their entry. It was sad and shocking, as my character (Sapna) is an integral part of the show.”
2020: Krushna opts out of The Kapil Sharma Show for Govinda episode
This time Krushna decided to opt out of the episode in which Govinda was supposed to come as a guest. He told the Bombay Times, “I learnt about Chi Chi mama coming on the show around 10 days ago. Since Sunita mami wasn’t accompanying him, the team thought that I would have no qualms performing. However, the incident has left a bad taste in my mouth. Last year, she didn’t want me to perform in front of them, but this time, I had reservations.”
2020: Krushna says Govinda didn’t come to meet his twins
Krushna told a leading daily, “They didn’t even come to see my twins in the hospital, not even when one of them was fighting for his life. I did call him, but there was no response. How long can I keep trying to resolve our issues, which is based on a silly misunderstanding? Of course, it hurts, but if he doesn’t want to see me, I, too, don’t want to meet him.”
2020: Govinda issues a statement
After Krushna’s comment, Govinda issued a statement that read, “It was erroneously alleged by Krushna that I did not go to see his twins. I along with my family went to see his twins in the hospital and met the doctor (Doctor Awasthi) and the nurse taking care of them. However, the nurse told me that the mother of the kids - Kashmira Shah never wanted any of the family members to come and see the surrogate babies. Upon further insistence, we were made to see the babies from a long distance. We returned with a heavy heart, however, I strongly feel that Krushna does not know of this incident. One can feel free to connect with the doctor and the nurse on the same and get to know the truth. Krushna also came to our home with the kids and Aarti Singh, which he has forgotten to mention in the statement."
“Be it Krushna or Kashmira - I have been a scapegoat of their defamatory comments and statements against me frequently - most of them in the media and some in the shows and performances that they do. I do not understand why is this slander being done repetitively and what is it that they are gaining from the same.”
2021: Krushna Abhishek again opts out of The Kapil Sharma Show episode featuring Govinda
Krushna opted out of the episode featuring Govinda as the guest.
2021: Sunita lashes out at Krushna
After Krushna opted out of the episode, Sunita told a leading daily, “I am distressed beyond words to know what Krushna Abhishek said about refusing to be a part of the episode that featured my family and me as guests.”
“Three years ago, I had said that things could not be resolved till I am alive. You can’t misbehave, insult or take liberties in the name of family... We have raised them and are not living off them...All I can say is that the issues will never get resolved and I don’t want to see his face ever again in my life,” she said.
2021: Kashmera speaks about the rift
About the rift, Kashmera told Aaj Tak, “To tell you the truth, I have no interest in this rift. These people have not existed for me for five years. I don’t want to say something about them. You must have seen I have not said anything for a long time. Otherwise I have a scathing retort for them.”
She also said, “Who is this Sunita? I have made my own name. I am not known as someone’s wife.”
2021: Sunita lashes out at Kashmera
In response to Kashmera’s “Who is this Sunita?” comment, Sunita told a leading daily, “I don't reply to bad things. Even after taking care of them like a mother, they are behaving in such a bad way. Problems in the house start when we bring a bad daughter-in-law.”
2023: Krushna talks about Govinda on Maniesh Paul’s Podcast
During the podcast, when Krushna was asked about his equation with Govinda, he said, “Whenever I say something to media, it is cut and pasted and shown on their social media. Chi chi mama I miss you and I love you a lot. Please do not pay heed to what you read in the newspaper or what you hear on social media. The thing I miss the most is that I want my babies to play with my mama. I know he misses me too. I know that.”
2023: Govinda appears on Maniesh Paul’s Podcast and forgives Krushna
Maniesh told Govinda what Krushna said about him on his podcast and requested him to say something for his nephew.
Govinda said, “For you and Aarti, you are the kids of my favourite sister. I've got so much love from her. You were not able to get that love, I feel very sad about that. Par main aesa nahi hoon, kisibhi haal mein, ki aapke dukh ka hissa mere kisi bhi vyawahar ke waja se aap k ho, aap bhi nahi hoiyye (But I'm not like that, in any case, don't let my behaviour be the reason of your sadness, you don't either). You’re always forgiven. Please relax, no problem with you. May God bless you and all the best. Keep working hard.”
2024: Govinda attends Arti Singh’s wedding
Putting all differences aside, Govinda and his son Yashvardhan attended Arti’s wedding.