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In a recent interview with veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, Bollywood star Govinda revealed that he was once offered a role in James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster Avatar. According to Govinda, the Hollywood director offered him a whopping £1.7 M (Rs 18 crore) for the lead role, which eventually went to Sam Worthington. The actor also claimed that he was the one who suggested the film’s title to Cameron.

Govinda shared that the opportunity arose after a chance meeting with a Sikh businessman in the US. “I had given him a business idea that worked well for him. Years later, he introduced me to James Cameron,” he recalled. The two discussed the project over dinner, where Govinda proposed the title Avatar. However, he turned down the role after learning that the character was physically disabled. “James told me the hero was handicapped. I said, ‘I’m not doing this film,’” Govinda explained. He also expressed concerns about the physical demands of the role, including body paint which he felt would take a toll on his health.