Perseverance pays and how. Young debutant actor Govind Krishna lives by the adage. Savouring the moment of bagging one of the lead roles in the film Hangover , he realises that the road to success is full of hurdles. But he is not one to give up. “I never get disappointed with rejection,” says the 31-year-old martial art expert, former VJ and now an actor with his first film set for Onam release.
Desire to act
Hangover came after much rejection for a lad who since his schooldays, in Thiruvalla, wished to be an actor. But for a short duration, this son of an Indian Air Force officer was attracted to join the Forces. Even in this short-lived fascination, he was romanticising the role of a martyr who sacrificed his life for the country, secretly nurturing his desire to act. It was this wish that has been a constant with Govind, who topped his school and college too. The stage was always a part of his life, from his school days. He won prizes for kathaprasangam in school and was ‘Kalaprathibha’ consecutively for five years. Awards in debates, elocution contests and mimicry shows became a part of his growing up story.
Yet with so much success taking him towards his starry goal, he faced setbacks. Govind lost his father early and his mother became unsure of him pursuing acting as a career. But he was not one to give up. He joined for martial arts training and excelled in it. Simultaneously he started practising dance.
TV anchor
In 2002, a TV channel announced a five-day campus festival—a dance and music competition. He recalls that his team of five dancers had no co-ordination but “we were noticed”. Govind was asked by one of the judges to participate in the Best Presenter competition. He did so and won. “This was the first time I clearly saw a road open in front of me,” says Govind, adding that rejection waited round the corner. He did not get a promised call from the channel to become an anchor. He knocked on all doors and finally got the job of an anchor. Govind has worked in almost all Malayalam channels as an anchor, playing the role efficiently for ten years. He has seen the Veejaying scene grow and change. In one of the first reality shows in the State, ‘Camp Hungama’, Govind was hopeful that the film directors would notice him but that was not to be. He realised that getting an entry into Malayalam cinema was not a cakewalk. He took everything into account. Govind says candidly, “I don’t have a striking face but during the last three four years, the scene has changed. I decided to bide my time.” He waited involving himself in theatre and performing at the National Theatre Festival in Bhilai. That gave him more exposure. He was noticed once again and asked by KPAC to play the role of Adhruman, a 60-year-old! But Govind’s self-help continued. He along with his friend made a five-minute show reel on his abilities and screened it in front of Prasanth Narayanan, MD of AOPL, a company that launched Dulquer and Maqbool Salman, who was impressed. But as ill luck would have it, Govind was late for casting in a film by Prasanth, but took his disappointment in stride.
During Hangover he was called to train the lead actor for scenes dealing with martial arts but surprisingly the director, Sreejith Sukumaran, saw Govind fit to do the lead role. Prasanth conveyed the decision. “Your Taekwondo skills will be useful in the role. You can play that lead,” he said and with those words Govind’s dream turned true.
“If you believe in something and hold on to it despite the hurdles, it will surely happen someday,” says Govind whose 15-year quest to be an actor has come true.
