Here, we look into the making of one of Bollywood's most popular films...

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Revisiting Hero No 1: A look back at Govinda-Karisma Kapoor’s hit comedy

Team CE

Published:31st Mar, 2021 at 3:34 PM

Hero No. 1 was the tenth film of Govinda and David Dhawan.

Released in 1997, it was the second entry in David Dhawan’s ‘No. 1’ series.

It was preceded by Coolie No. 1 and followed by Biwi No. 1 and Jodi No. 1.

David wanted to call the film just Hero. However, since the title was already registered with Subhash Ghai, the qualifier ‘No. 1’ was added.

Govinda plays a rich boy who falls in love with Meena (Karishma Kapoor).

When Meena’s grandfather (Paresh Rawal) objects to the wedding, he infiltrates their household as a good-natured help.

The film’s plot was repurposed from the Rajesh Khanna-starrer Bawarchi.

Bawarchi, in turn, was a remake of the 1966 Bengali film Galpo Holeo Satti.

Govinda’s character in the film is named Rajesh, a likely nod to the original star.

The script of Hero No. 1 was co-written by Rumi Jafry and Kader Khan.

Kader Khan also plays Govinda's wealthy father.

David’s elder brother Anil Dhawan plays the role of Paresh Rawal’s son.

In real life, Paresh Rawal is around the same age as his onscreen sons Anil Dhawan, Satish Shah and Tiku Talsania.

The sequence where Govinda is getting dressed in his car was lifted from a Mr. Bean episode. It was called ‘The Trouble with Mr. Bean”.

Former child actor Omkar Kapoor plays the role of Karishma’s cousin.

Omkar also appeared in David Dhawan’s Judwaa the same year.

Himani Shivpuri played the role of Meena’s aunt Shannu. The film opens with Meena and Shannu on a trip to Europe, where they meet Rajesh.

Shakti Kapoor has a special appearance as the former house-help.

The film’s music was composed by Anand-Milind.

The track Sona Kitna Sona Hai, voiced by Udit Narayan and Poornima Shrestha, was a big hit.

The word ‘Hero’ appears in both Sona Kitna Sona Hain and U.P. Wala Thum, sung by Sonu Nigam.

In the song ‘Saaton Janam Tumko Paate’, Govinda mimics famous actors like Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar

For her performance, Karisma Kapoor was nominated for a Zee Cine Award in 1998

Hero No. 1 is referenced in a dialogue in Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal series.

The film was remade in Telugu as Goppinti Alludu.

In 2016, Govinda launched his ‘Hero No. 1’ restaurant in Delhi