Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Govinda made Bade Miyan Chote Miyan to honour his mother
In India, movie stars act in films, and Govinda is one of the most famous ones.
He loved his mother, a singer named Nirmala Devi, very much.
One day, another very famous movie star named Amitabh Bachchan came to Govinda's house to ask him to act in a film with him.
Govinda's mother told him to be kind to his guest and not let him leave empty-handed.
Sadly, his mother passed away in 1996, before the film could be made.
Even though Govinda was very sad, he kept his promise and made the film.
The film was called Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, and it came out in 1998.
At first, Govinda did not want to make the movie because he was still sad, but Amitabh helped change his mind.
The two stars even worked out a plan so they could shoot together, with Amitabh letting Govinda come late if he called first.
This story shows how much Govinda loved his mother and how he never forgot his promise to her.
Govinda agreed to star in the 1998 comedy Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with Amitabh Bachchan only to honour his late mother, classical singer Nirmala Devi.
Nirmala Devi died in 1996 from age-related causes before shooting began, yet Govinda filmed the movie even though he was not in the right frame of mind.
Govinda initially rejected the film when David Dhawan narrated it to him; Amitabh Bachchan then visited his house and convinced him to sign.
Bachchan recalled that during the shoot of Hum, a young girl slapped him and told a boy to take Govinda's autograph instead.
Govinda said Bachchan offered a practical solution to his habitual lateness - call him with an arrival time - and Vijay Patkar recalled Bachchan picking Govinda up from his house in his car.
- Who
- Govinda, his mother Nirmala Devi, and Amitabh Bachchan
- What
- Govinda agreed to star in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan to honour his mother's request not to let Bachchan leave his house empty-handed
- When
- The film released in 1998, Nirmala Devi died in 1996, and Govinda recounted the story in a recent ANI interview
- Where
- India, beginning at Govinda's house and continuing on the film's sets
- Why
- To keep a promise to his mother, who saw Bachchan's visit as good luck and asked Govinda to serve his guest
- Film
- Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998 hit)
- Lead Actors
- Govinda and Amitabh Bachchan
- Govinda's Mother
- Nirmala Devi, classical singer
- Mother's Death
- 1996, age-related causes
- Genre
- Comedy
- Actor-Director Duo
- Govinda and David Dhawan (hits like Raja Babu, Coolie No 1, Hero No 1)
- Career Context
- Govinda faced a spate of flops; Bachchan was in a transition phase with fading stardom
- On-Set Arrangement
- Bachchan let Govinda set his own arrival time and reportedly picked him up in his car