Govinda recalls 9-year legal battle after slapping fan: Nobody supported me

Bollywood veteran Govinda has opened up about one of the most difficult phases of his life, a nine-year legal battle that stemmed from an incident in 2008, when he slapped a fan on the sets of Money Hai Toh Honey Hai. The actor recently shared that during this ordeal, he received no support from anyone and was left to fight the legal mess alone.
In a conversation with Mukesh Khanna, Govinda reflected on the lack of support he received after the controversy erupted. He recalled, "I submitted proofs against the victim named Santosh in court. However, women were telling me that he is a good person; please don’t do anything wrong to him. I was so thankful to God. Maine dekh liya ki nobody supported me. Ek thappad ke case mein kisi ka support nahi hai…"
Govinda admitted that such incidents deeply affect a person’s self-confidence, making them feel isolated and vulnerable. Despite his immense popularity at the time, the actor found himself entangled in years of legal trouble, which he had never anticipated.
The incident occurred in 2008, when Govinda was at the peak of his stardom. Fans would often gather to watch him shoot, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite actor. On the day in question, Santosh, a self-proclaimed die-hard fan, was among the crowd present on the Mumbai set of 'Money Hai Toh Honey Hai.'.
However, what should have been a dream moment turned into a nightmare when Govinda, in a fit of anger, slapped Santosh. The reason for the actor’s reaction remains unclear, but reports suggest that Santosh was allegedly misbehaving on set.
The shocking turn of events left Santosh emotionally devastated. In an interview with Rediff, he shared the emotional turmoil he went through after being assaulted by someone he had idolized. "Imagine being hit by someone you considered a god," he expressed, reflecting his disbelief and disappointment.