The downfall of Govinda, once a reigning king of Bollywood known for his comedy and dance, has been a topic of much discussion. Various reasons have been cited by those who've worked closely with him. Recently, film producer Pahlaj Nihalani, who produced several of Govinda's hit films, has offered his perspective, pointing fingers at David Dhawan and Govinda's own reliance on astrologers.

Nihalani, in a recent interview, accused filmmaker David Dhawan of poisoning Govinda's mind against him, leading to their professional separation. He suggests that Dhawan felt Nihalani unfairly profited from their collaborations, particularly the 1993 hit "Aankhen." Nihalani, however, maintains that he was the driving force behind the film, having conceived the story and screenplay. He even went so far as to call Dhawan a "dummy director," claiming he was often absent during shoots and that Nihalani himself handled much of the filmmaking process. He said that Dhawan was bitter against him as he thought he earned money for him in the 1993 film Aankhen. Pahlaj argued that he was the producer of the film and it was also his story which was made into a feature film.

Beyond the alleged discord with Dhawan, Nihalani also attributes Govinda's career slump to the actor's naivete and his reliance on "pandits" (astrologers and fortune tellers). He claims that Govinda easily trusts people and is surrounded by an atmosphere that isn't conducive to his career. Nihalani believes that Govinda's faith in these advisors and their "conversations" have negatively impacted his decision-making and overall image in the film industry. He stated that Govinda keeps the company of pandits and the atmosphere he has around him, and what he believes in is damaging for his career in the film industry.

Nihalani also touched upon the film "Partner," which offered Govinda a momentary comeback. He believes that Govinda was the ideal choice for the role but that Dhawan and co-star Salman Khan created an impression that they were doing Govinda a favor. Nihalani feels that Govinda, in his naivete, may have been swayed by this narrative. He said that Govinda got so emotional and is so naive. They acted like they were obliging Govinda, but they actually wanted only him to play that role.

Govinda's career trajectory is a complex one, and it's likely that a multitude of factors contributed to his decline. While Nihalani's claims offer a provocative perspective, they should be considered alongside other potential reasons, such as changing audience tastes, Govinda's own choices in film roles, and the rise of new stars.