/> There's a prevalent sense of shock and dismay about the length and breath of Govinda's role in Bhagam Bhag.

"Govinda has ended up looking like Akshay Kumar's sidekick !" a popular director who has worked a number of times with Govinda can't get over his shock.

In fact the whole industry is abuzz with talk of Govinda's shockingly supportive role in the new Priyadarshan comedy.

Govinda's response to charges of short-changing himself are significantly cryptic.

"All I'll say is that I went through the film with a horse's rein checking me in every scene...I can't really blame anyone. I went into Bhagam Bhag with eyes open, but blinkers on.

I had to make a comeback and I had to do so in a big film. That opening, Bhagam Bhag has provided for me. Beyond that I wouldn't like to say anything. If my role appears brief I've no one to blame. But yes, there was a lot more I could've done. Why I didn't do it? I've no answer to that."

Govinda is down with an acute attack of exhaustion, all thanks to his new film Chal Chala Chal which he has been shooting non-stop for the last two months.

"It's the fastest film in my entire career of 20 years. Unfortunately the non-stop shooting has taken its toll on my health. I was constantly traveling between Mumbai and Pune. I've now requested the director to complete the film in Mumbai.

It was very tiring. I've been down with a series of ailments. Now I'm just resting for a bit. I can afford to do, now that my comeback film Bhagam Bhag is a hit."

Recently actor, MP Govinda celebrated his 42nd birthday.

"To my delight I got as many as 70 SMS within hours. My wife Sunita and children hosted a party for me. We invited all my colleagues and production team with whom I've been working in the past few months, including of course the whole Bhagam Bhag team."

Govinda's Bhagam Bhag co-star Akshay Kumar was conspicuous by his absence.

"I don't know why....I think he wasn't in the country," Govinda ends lamely. And adds, "I'm just so grateful to Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan to doing films with me."

Is Govinda's 17-year old daughter going to be an actress?

"Both my children Narmada and Yash have full freedom to do what they want to do with their lives. I'm there to support them in every way possible. Right now my daughter is off to London for one year for a course in jewellery designing."

The father's lonely heart is already wondering.

"I'll go and see her every month in London, my schedules permitting. Of course I'm going to miss her. But every individual needs to harden himself against setbacks, needs to gather his own courage to withstand the tests of time.

I've been trying to do a good job of it. The last six years after my mother passed away have been specially hard on me. The period of recovery began in 2006. Hopefully things will get even better for me in 2007."

Govinda now has Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq to look forward to at the beginning of 2007.

"My reputation of an unpunctual actor should now be gone. I was up at 5 a.m and 6 a.m for Bhagam Bhag and Salaam-e-Ishq."