Felt kind of suicidal: Govinda recalls walking into Narmada after mother's death

Actor Govinda has opened up about the devastating impact of his mother Nirmala Devi’s death, recalling a deeply painful moment when he walked into the Narmada River after her death. The actor revealed that he was so overwhelmed by grief that he believed he could somehow “meet” his mother again. He admitted that he was “kind of” suicidal at the time, explaining that his deep attachment to his mother had left him in tremendous emotional pain.Nirmala Devi died in 1996, and Govinda said her death left him in tremendous pain. Speaking to ANI, he recalled, “I was in a lot of pain. At that point, I felt that everything was over; that was it.”Recalling what happened at the Narmada River, the 62-year-old actor said, “I was at the Narmada River. I thought I would go a little farther into the river and that I would meet my mother again. So, I went.”Asked whether he was feeling suicidal at the time, Govinda said, “Kind of. I was deeply attached to my mother. I was too much in love with her.” However, the actor said he did not see his actions as an attempt to end his life. “That’s what the world calls it. People use suicide-type of words. We don’t really have anything like that. Life never ends. It takes on new faces; it takes on new forms,” he said.Govinda also recalled how a priest, whom he remembers as Ram Kundal, noticed him in the river and called out to him. The priest approached him and helped him come out. The encounter eventually made Govinda realise that he needed to step back from what he was doing. “I realised someone said to me at that time that I was doing something wrong. And I learned a lesson. I realised that I have to live for my children,” he added.The Partner actor said that it took him more than 15 days to recover from that state of mind and find a renewed sense of purpose in life. He added that the experience also changed his perspective on films, acting and stardom.Nirmala Devi was a renowned Hindustani classical vocalist and actor. She died on June 15, 1996, at the age of 69.Meanwhile, on the work front, Govinda is currently promoting his upcoming film Roopa, which also stars newcomer Komal Rani Swarnkar.- EndsPublished By: Prachi aryaPublished On: Aug 9, 2026 16:25 IST