Amrish Puri’s Son Dismisses Long-Standing Rumors of Physical Altercation with Govinda

For decades, one of the most enduring pieces of gossip in Bollywood circles has been the alleged physical altercation between late cinema legend Amrish Puri and star Govinda. The story, which has circulated for years, claims that a frustrated Puri slapped Govinda on set after the latter arrived nine hours late for a shoot.

However, the late actor’s son, Rajeev Puri, has now stepped forward to put these rumors to rest, categorically denying that any such incident ever occurred.

“Not in his nature”

In a recent appearance on Vickey Lalwani’s podcast, Rajeev Puri addressed the long-standing rumor. According to the legend, Amrish Puri had arrived on set at 9:00 AM, while Govinda did not report for work until 6:00 PM. Allegedly, this immense delay pushed the veteran actor to the point of a physical confrontation.

Rajeev firmly rejected this narrative, describing his father as a man of immense patience and professionalism who was simply not prone to outbursts of violence.

“I don’t think that is true,” Rajeev stated. “He was never the type to lose his temper. He never lost his temper like that. He would raise his voice only after somebody irritated him twice or thrice, but otherwise, I don’t think he would have ever slapped anyone. That is not true.”

Rajeev further noted that while he had encountered the story throughout his life, he had always disregarded it because it stood in direct contradiction to the man he knew his father to be.

A Professional Divide

While he debunked the physical aspect of the rumors, Rajeev acknowledged that Govinda’s infamous reputation for chronic tardiness likely created a professional divide between the two actors.

The two appeared together in the 1989 film Do Qaidi, which is widely cited as their final collaboration. Rajeev suggested that the lack of future projects might have been a result of conflicting professional ethics rather than personal animosity.

“Because of that, perhaps Govinda did not work with Daddy in the future,” Rajeev explained. “Maybe he understood that coming late would not work with him. But I don’t think Daddy held any grudges over such things.”

A Lasting Legacy

Amrish Puri remains one of the most respected figures in Indian cinema, celebrated for his transformative performances in iconic films such as Mr. India, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, and Virasat. Since his passing in 2005 at the age of 72, he has been remembered by colleagues and fans alike for his immense discipline and dedication to the craft—traits that his family says define his true legacy far more than any unfounded tabloid rumor.