Remember when Govinda revealed that he turned down an offer to play the lead role in James Cameron's Avatar? Amid the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, netizens are having a field day with fake AI-generated images and videos, where the actor can be seen as one of the Na'vi people in Cameron's film. Interestingly, the memes reached a crescendo this Sunday, which marks Govinda's birthday. Some netizens are also of the opinion that Cameron should have made a version of Avatar with Govinda in an important role, instead of choosing certain other actors with lesser skill. Despite the appreciation for its spectacle, the film is facing plenty of flak from audiences and critics alike for its storytelling. The feedback for the film is in stark contrast to its India box office collection, which according to Sacnilk, has reached around 57 crore as of writing this.

Coming back to Govinda, the actor once said on Aaj Ki Adalat that he rejected the offer to star in Avatar as he was uncomfortable with the idea of having his body painted for a schedule lasting over 400 days. He also disclosed that it was his idea to name the film Avatar, that it would become commercially successful, and that Cameron could not wrap the film's production in seven years.

Interestingly, Govinda is not the only actor to claim that he turned down the lead role in Cameron's film. Many years ago, Matt Damon said that he declined it for a 10 per cent of the film's profit, a claim that Cameron recently dismissed.