'Shivangi insisted on having a romantic...' OMG star Govind Namdev speaks about viral photo with 40-years-younger actress
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Clarification on the Viral Photograph
Fallout from the Public Speculation
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Reflecting on His Career Choices
Veteran actor Govind Namdev has broken his silence on the widespread speculation regarding his relationship with 30-year-old actress Shivangi Verma . The rumours took off after a photograph of the two together surfaced online, prompting gossip about a possible off-screen romance. Namdev, however, has now come forward to explain the context behind the viral image and to clear misconceptions surrounding the matter.As per ETimes, Namdev, who is 70 years old, stated that the photo was part of a planned publicity campaign for their upcoming film Gaurishankar Goharganj Wale. During a meeting with the film's director, producer, and Verma, they had discussed strategies to generate buzz. According to him, it was Verma who pushed for presenting their on-screen pairing as a romantic one, believing it would help draw attention to the project. Namdev agreed in principle and approved the idea on the basis that it was purely for promotional purposes.However, he revealed that things took a turn when Verma proceeded with the campaign independently, tagging the film in a particular way without informing him. This, he explained, led to misunderstandings and unwanted speculation. As the rumours began to intensify, Namdev expressed his displeasure and distanced himself from further interaction with her.The actor also addressed the personal toll the rumours took, including false claims about trouble in his marriage. He acknowledged that people around him — including friends and family — started expressing concern, assuming there was some truth to the gossip. Feeling responsible as a public figure, Namdev decided to clarify the matter by posting statements online.Namdev emphasized the significance of an actor's responsibility toward the audience. He said actors are admired and followed, and their actions — on or off-screen — influence how people think. This, he noted, makes it critical to maintain integrity and transparency in public interactions.When asked about his openness to portraying romantic roles, Namdev said he has no issue taking on such parts if they align with the script and carry moral or narrative value. He drew a clear line between genuine storytelling and sensationalism, stating that he is only interested in roles that contribute meaningfully to the film.Having built a career around powerful portrayals, especially in negative roles, Namdev reiterated his belief that characters should elicit the intended emotional responses. He said his aim is not to glorify wrongdoing but to ensure that audiences feel the impact of immoral actions.The actor also shared a personal regret from earlier in his career — endorsing a paan masala advertisement. At the time, he said, the campaign received praise, but in hindsight, he now sees the harmful message it conveyed. He stated firmly that he would not support such products today and has also spoken out against advertisements promoting tobacco and gaming, citing the need for ethical boundaries in professional decisions.Gaurishankar Goharganj Wale, the film at the centre of this controversy, is expected to depict a nuanced relationship between an older man and a young woman. Namdev, an alumnus of the National School of Drama, remains committed to selecting roles that reflect social realities.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Dhanashree Verma on divorce with Yuzvendra Chahal: I started howling in court
Cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal's ex-wife and choreographer Dhanashree Verma opened up about having an emotional breakdown during their divorce proceedings. Speaking on a podcast on Tuesday, Verma also reacted to Chahal wearing a 'Be Your Own Sugar Daddy' T-shirt in a Human of Bombay podcast, Verma recounted the day of the divorce. She remembered howling in court despite being emotionally Day of DivorceThe choreographer said, "I still remember when I was standing there and the verdict was about to be given. Even though we were so well-prepared mentally, I got so emotional. I started howling in front of everybody." "I couldn't even express what I was feeling at that point. I just remember that I just kept crying, I was just howling and crying. Of course! All of that happened, and he (Chahal) walked out first," she T-shirt controversyDuring the court proceedings, Chahal wore a t-shirt with 'Be Your Own Sugar Daddy' text, which sparked controversy. Addressing the incident, Verma commented, "You know that people are going to blame you. Before I had even known that this T-shirt stunt had happened, we were all aware that people were going to blame me for this."The 28-year-old recalled coming across videos of Chahal's T-shirt after leaving the court. She expressed her surprise, saying, "Are bhai, WhatsApp kar deta. T-shirt kyu pehna hai? (You should have sent it on WhatsApp. Why wear the T-shirt?)"On maturity and societal expectationsVerma emphasised the importance of maturity, stating, "I feel you have to be very mature about this. I have chosen that path. I chose maturity over being immature and passing immature statements that can appeal to the public. But I would not choose that path because I don't want to disrupt my family values or his family values. We have to keep respect intact."She also reflected on societal expectations for women. "All that time you spend just flashes, it comes. As a woman humko sikhaya jaata hai ki nibhaao, bhandh ke chalo, karo. (As a woman, we are taught to keep everything settled and manage). Because we know our societies very well, our mothers know our societies very well. You are going to be labelled," Chahal's ex-wife with ChahalVerma further highlighted her support for Chahal during their marriage. The 28-year-old said, "You have to put in an effort. I know how much I have stood up for my partner, and everybody has seen that. Like for the smallest or biggest things, I have been there. Maybe because of that, my emotions came out."advertisement"How you behave on that particular day is a reflection of you as a person," she concluded. Both Verma and Chahal married in 2020 and parted ways in cricketer earlier spoke about his struggles with mental health and putting up a false image of a happy marriage in a previous podcast.- EndsTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Yuzvendra Chahal
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Bollywood's first actor to buy Rolls Royce was an Indian immigrant who bought food from first earning
At a time when female actors in Hindi cinema were mostly confined to traditional, virtuous roles, Nadira broke stereotypes and built an identity that was both daring and unforgettable. Best remembered for her role as the glamorous Maya in Raj Kapoor's Shree 420 (1955), she became Bollywood's first screen vamp, giving depth and credibility to characters often sidelined as negative or undesirable. Born Florence Ezekiel in 1932 to a Baghdadi Jewish family in Baghdad, Nadira migrated with her family to Bombay (now Mumbai) as a child. She began acting in films at the age of 11, debuting as a child artist in Mauj (1943). Her big break came in Aan (1952), where Mehboob Khan cast her as a Rajput princess opposite Dilip Kumar. Hardships to Financial Independence Coming from an immigrant household, Nadira experienced financial struggles in her early years. In a 1999 interview, she recalled how her first salary of ₹1,200 a month eventually grew to ₹3,000—a considerable sum in the early 1950s. When she received her first three-month installment of ₹3,600, she admitted to being overwhelmed, even asking filmmaker Mehboob Khan for a ride home because she felt unsafe carrying so much money. Her family was equally astonished at the sudden financial turnaround. She later revealed that her mother initially suspected the money was stolen. Nadira quickly used her earnings to purchase food, household necessities, and even gold jewelry, recalling that she bought such an abundance of groceries that much of it had to be shared with neighbors. Typecast After Shree 420 Despite her initial success, Nadira faced a career setback after Shree 420. Though her performance as Maya was celebrated, she later described it as the turning point that limited her opportunities. Producers repeatedly offered her vamp roles, forcing her to reject nearly 200 films before reluctantly accepting the typecasting that defined her career. For a period, she admitted to being out of work and struggling, as filmmakers expected her to replicate the same glamorous, cigarette-holding persona she had portrayed on screen. Yet, she turned these roles into iconic performances. In later years, actors like Jaya Bachchan openly acknowledged how commanding Nadira was on screen, describing her presence as intimidating during the filming of Ek Nazar (1972). First Indian Actor to Own Rolls Royce Nadira's success in the 1950s and 60s translated into a lifestyle few in Bollywood could match at the time. She became one of the highest-paid actresses of her generation and, remarkably, the first Indian actor to own a Rolls Royce in the 1960s. At a time when such luxury cars were virtually unseen in India, her decision to import one symbolized not just wealth but independence and influence. According to ETimes and Hindustan Times reports, Nadira's choice set a precedent for Bollywood stars decades before names like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Priyanka Chopra would acquire the same brand. Over her career, Nadira appeared in around 70 films, including Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi (1960), Pakeezah (1972), and Julie (1975), the last of which earned her a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Despite her fame, she never married and eventually lived alone in Mumbai, even after much of her family migrated abroad. Her final major appearance was in Josh (2000), after which she battled health issues, including meningitis, liver complications, and paralysis. She passed away in 2006 at the age of 73.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
15 Kg weight loss in 4 months achieved by Guru Randhawa: His exercise plan and diet secrets
Focused Fitness Routine Diet and Nutrition Choices Popular singer and composer Guru Randhawa, known for chartbusters like Lahore and Naach Meri Rani, stunned fans when he revealed his dramatic weight loss during the pandemic. Within a span of just four months, the musician managed to shed 15 kilograms, turning 2020 into a year of personal transformation. His journey combined a disciplined fitness routine with mindful eating, offering insight into how he rebuilt his health and conversations with Bombay Times and ETimes, Randhawa said the lockdown gave him the opportunity to dedicate time to self-improvement. He explained that while his early life in Gurdaspur, Punjab, was filled with sports and outdoor activities, his packed music career later made it difficult to prioritize fitness. Though he had been to the gym earlier, he admitted that he never trained with complete dedication until workouts were aimed at overall body transformation. He worked closely with a personal trainer who designed a program that targeted every muscle group. The idea, he shared, was to ensure that his body appeared in shape from all sides—whether performing on stage or acting on singer also saw exercise as more than just physical training. He considered it a process of strengthening both body and mind, defining fitness as staying active and living a healthy remained an important part of Randhawa's journey, but he stressed the importance of eating wisely. In an interview with TOI, he revealed that he preferred healthier oils such as olive oil to cook with. His diet mainly included green vegetables, along with fruits like bananas, apples, and grapes. Fresh fruit juices were also a regular part of his making these mindful choices, he was able to strike a balance between enjoying food and maintaining his fitness goals without extreme results were clear—15 kilograms lost in four months through sheer consistent effort.
