Nobody can be Govinda: David Dhawan

David Dhawan, who is remaking his own 1990s’ hit Coolie No 1 with his son Varun in the lead, is very clear that this new version of the story is an entirely new beast.

“I can’t be doing a faithful remake of the Govinda film. Firstly, Varun is not similar to Govinda at all. Govinda was a legend in his own right with a style no one can copy. What Govinda and I did together in films like Haseena Maan Jayegi, Hero No 1 and Coolie No 1 can’t be repeated with any other hero,” says the filmmaker.

Not even with his own son Varun?

“Most of all not with Varun. He is a different actor from Govinda, or for that matter Salman Khan. When Varun did the remake of Judwaa, he didn’t try to do what Salman did. No actor can do what Govinda or Salman can do. Varun in Coolie No.1 is as different from Govinda in the original as Varun was from Salman in the new Judwaa,” explains David.