Govinda was born in 1986 in a filmy background family. They are basically from Gujranwala, Punjab and his father moved to Mumbai to become an actor.
His father Aroon (Arun Kumar Ahuja) was an actor who acted as a leading and also as a supporting actor and his mother Nirmala Devi was a singer and also an actress.
His father acted in between 1939 to 1954 in around 30 films and he got popularized for his role in Mehboob Khan's film Aurat in 1940.
Their family was in a good condition financially but when the only film which was produced by his father Aroon became a disaster that had become the reason for them to face a heavy financial crisis. Because of heavy losses, his father became ill. Initially they were living in a bungalow in Mumbai’s Carter road but then they moved to Virar, a northern Mumbai suburb where Govinda was born as the youngest among 5 children, so he got the nickname Chi Chi which means little finger in Punjabi language. His father couldn't work because of illness and his mother looked after them.
Once Govinda shared in Simi Garewal talk show about why he decided to become an actor. He said that once he went to Khar railway station along with his mother, because of heavy crowd his mother could not get into the train due to her old age. Govinda didn't have money to buy a first class ticket for his mother, immediately he went to his uncle and asked some money to buy first class ticket. On that day his mother's pain motivated him to become a Bollywood actor.
His father Aroon also wanted Govinda to make his career in Bollywood ofter he completed his graduation in B com. Coincidentally at that time he watched Mithun Chakraborty's blockbuster Disco Dancer which was released in 1982 that inspired him to learn dance. He practiced dance by himself for hours, he made a dance video of his own and he circulated his VHS promotional cassette so that he can get the chance to act. This step helped him to get chances in ads and he also got offer for B. R. Chopra's famous Mahabharat serial to perform Abhimanyu's role, he even auditioned for Mahabharat serial but when he got the chance to act in his first filmy project he didn't act in the Mahabharata serial.
Govinda worked for the first time as a leading actor for the film Tan Badan opposite Khushboo under the direction of his uncle Anand which was released in 1986. But before the release of Tan Badan he got chance to act in Love 1986 and Ilzaam, both the films were released before Tan Badan and both the films were commercially successful.
Further he seriously concentrated on his work, through his hard work and dedication he became a successful actor in Bollywood and earned enough money also. He began his career as a romantic and a dancing hero, later he did varieties of roles but as a comedy hero he attained much success. In 80s his pair with Neelam got popularised.
Govinda collaborated with director David Dhawan in around 17 films and the duo had given several comedy box-office hits throughout 1990s. But in 1999 their relationship got disturbed when Govinda rejected to act in the film Biwi No 1, some reports said that he rejected to act with Sushmita Sen and he demanded for her replacement but when the director rejected his suggestion he turned down the offer.
This was also a reason for the set back of Govinda in his filmy career. He also rejected several opportunities to act in good films like Taal, Chandani, Devdas, and Gaddar: Ek Prem Katha. Gradually his style of films received less demand in the market, he rejected to act as a second leading hero or in supporting roles and he also entered politics. Due to all these reasons his demand reduced in the market.
In 1990s his pair with Karisma Kapoor got popularized.
His last appearance happened in Rangeela Raja in 2019 in which he did double role and the film was commercially unsuccessful.
Recently Govinda alongwith Chunky Pandey took part in Kajol and Twinkle Khanna chat show, 'Too Much With Kajol and Twinkle, he said, “No matter how good a planning you do or make the script or lyrics or dialogues promising a film won't be successful when the environment is not right".
Govinda attained much success in the Bollywood film industry, he acted in more than 120 Bollywood films. He developed his own type of styles and became successful though it was a tough competition from other leading actors. He impressed the audience with his dancing skills and acting styles throughout his career.